World Athletics 2011: Hannah England produces stunning 1500m silver

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Media caption,

GB's England wins surprise silver

Britain's Hannah England made a spectacular late move to win world silver in the women's 1500m at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea.

England, 24, looked out of the reckoning in seventh in the final straight before her spectacular kick.

"I'm just really pleased. It felt great because I didn't put any pressure on myself," England told the BBC.

America's Jennifer Barringer Simpson won gold in a time of four minutes 5.40 seconds, ahead of England's 4:05.68.

With 200m to go, England - in her first global championships - was boxed in on the curb and appeared out of it, but a storming sprint finish saw her battle through to second.

At the line she was closing in on Simpson, but the American hung on to take gold, with Spain's Natalia Rodriquez in third.

Media caption,

England surprised to get silver

"I knew some of the race scenarios would suit me, and I was lucky to get one that did - but it's totally different to do it," England added.

"I just tried to be insular and clinical and finish as fast as I could. I wasn't tying up, and perhaps if I hadn't had to go so wide I might have won - but Jenny [Simpson] had to go wide too.

"If anything it calms me down a bit for the Olympics because it reaffirms that the training I'm doing is right and my approach is right."

Yamile Aldama, the 39-year-old who qualified to represent Britain this year after previously competing for Cuba and Sudan, finished fifth in a women's triple jump won by Ukraine's Olha Saladuha, while Lashinda Demus of the United States took the women's 400m hurdles title.

Newly crowned 100m world champion Carmelita Jeter was the most impressive of the qualifiers from the women's 200m semi-finals, cruising home in 22.47secs from the first semi as Britain's Anyika Onuora went out after finishing seventh in the second.

Onuora, who ran a personal best of 22.93 secs in her morning heat, said: "I didn't do as well as I wanted, but I enjoyed every race. I'm the first Brit here to PB, which is fantastic."

Jeter will be joined in Friday's final by reigning champion Allyson Felix, Kerron Stewart and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Media caption,

Holmes backs England for Olympic 1500m gold

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