On Saturday, Barbara Banks competed in the final of the Women's A.A.A. 1500 metres , and finished seventh in a top class field.
To reach the final, Barbara had to qualify in her heat the previous night, and in qualifying ran eight seconds faster than ever before, to record 4 mins. 30.5 secs.
The final, held in a strong wind, saw Barbara finish seventh of nine top 1500 metres runners including Gommers of the Netherlands, the holder of the U.K. All Comers record for 1500 metres, ranked second in the world, and Ann O'Brien, holder of the U.K. All Comers record for 3,000 metres, ranked second in the world over that distance.
Barbara finished behind Gommers, who won, but ahead of Ann O'Brien and might well have earned herself a sub 4:30 clocking if she had gone with the main group from the gun.
Having improved her track times so much, Barbara should be a real force over cross-country this winter.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Friday, 25/07/1969 by B.S.
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