JASON Lobo, from Blackburn, sits on top of British 800m running, AAA Champion after a great race in the final of the BUPA AAA Championships and Trials at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.

Keeping out of trouble in a closely bunched field, he shared the lead in lane two at the break after the first bend.

He stayed there with the leading group as they went through the bell in a comfortable 55.88 seconds.

With 300m to go Jason went out in front and stayed there, holding off a series of challenges, the last one in the final few metres before the line.

He responded to this like a true champion and his chest was still a foot clear of the best of the rest as he sped home. The time of 1min 49.62secs was a couple of seconds slower than his personal best, but times were of no consequence. This was all about winning, not about watches, and Jason won, having dominated the race from start to finish.

The two East Lancashire women in the 1500m also excelled.

Kerry Smithson won the fastest heat with a time of 4mins 21.25secs - three tenths faster than her previous best - with Amanda Parkinson qualifying for the final, easing up in fourth place.

In the final Amanda was among the leading bunch of four in a field divided into two groups.

With 800m to go the first four detached themselves from the rest, Lynn Gibson of Oxford leading them home in 4mins 12.72secs.

Amanda was fourth, only 1.47 seconds behind the winner and with a time of 4mins 14.19secs. This was a wonderful performance - a new personal best by two and a half seconds and in only the third race after a long lay-off enforced by an ankle injury.

Kerry, too, ran splendidly, sixth home and again improving her personal best to 4mins 20.24secs.

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