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Lesley-Ann Skeete

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Lesley-Ann Skeete
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Auckland 100 m hurdles

Lesley-Ann Skeete (born 20 February 1967) is an English former track and field athlete who competed in the 100 metres hurdles. She represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She also won a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Career

Skeete was born in Sydenham, England and was raised in Swindon. She first came to prominence in 1985 as a teenager, winning the first of two English Schools 100 metres hurdles titles. She began 1986 by claiming her first senior national title at the AAAs indoor championships, winning the 60 m hurdles in 8.22 secs.[1] In the summer of 1986, Skeete placed second in the 100 m hurdles at both the UK Championships and the AAAs Championships behind Sally Gunnell and ahead of both Wendy Jeal and Olympic silver medalist Shirley Strong. At the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, she finished fifth in the final in 13.66.

In the 1987 indoor season, after retaining her AAAs title, Skeete reached the 60 m hurdles final at both the European Indoor Championships and the World Indoor Championships. At the Europeans in Lievin, she was fifth in 8.07, having run a UK record of 8.06 in both the heats and semis. At the World Indoors in Indianapolis, she was sixth in 8.18 secs.[2] Outdoors, she won the UK title in 13.29, ahead of Kim Hagger and Wendy Jeal before again finishing second to Sally Gunnell at the AAAs Championships. At the World Championships in Rome, she was eliminated in the heats in 13.40.

In 1988, Skeete finished second to Gunnell at the AAAs Championships, earning selection for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. In Seoul, she reached the semi-finals, running 13.23. In 1989, Skeete won her third AAAs 60 m hurdles title indoors, while outdoors, she finished second at the UK Championships and third at the AAAs Championships. In January 1990 at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, she won the bronze medal in 13.31, behind Kay Morley and Sally Gunnell. Later that year, she ran her lifetime best in the 100 m hurdles to win the AAAs title, edging out Kay Morley 13.03 to 13.05.[3] At the 1990 European Championships in Split, she reached the semi-finals, where she ran 13.37.

In 1991, Skeete won her fourth AAAs indoor 60 m hurdles title[4] and reached the semi-finals at the World Indoor Championships in Seville, running 8.15. In the summer, she won her second UK title, before finishing second to Sally Gunnell (for the fourth time) at the AAAs Championships, Gunnell narrowly winning, 13.02 to 13.05. At the World Championships in Tokyo, she was eliminated in the heats in 13.33.

Skeekte began the 1992 summer season by finishing second at the UK Championships in June. Running into a strong headwind, she narrowly lost to Kay Morley-Brown, 13.59 to 13.67. In July at the AAAs Championships, incorporating the Olympic trials, she finished third behind Gunnell and Morley-Brown in a season's best of 13.28, earning selection for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. In Barcelona, she was eliminated in the heats in 13.42. The 1992 Olympics would prove to be Skeete's final appearance at a major Championships.

Skeete's final top three finish at a national championships came in 1994, when she finished third behind Clova Court and Sally Gunnell at the AAAs Championships. As of 2015, her lifetime best of 8.06 in the 60 m hurdles, ranks her sixth on the UK all-time list. In the 100 m hurdles, her best of 13.03, ranks her 13th on the UK all-time list.[5]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Great Britain /  England
1985 European Junior Championships Cottbus, East Germany 5th 100 m hurdles 13.51
1986 European Indoor Championships Madrid, Spain 14th (h) 60 m hurdles 8.40
Commonwealth Games Edinburgh, United Kingdom 5th 100 m hurdles 13.66
1987 European Indoor Championships Liévin, France 5th 60 m hurdles 8.07
World Indoor Championships Indianapolis, United States 6th 60 m hurdles 8.18
World Championships Rome, Italy 17th (h) 100 m hurdles 13.40
1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea 12th (sf) 100 m hurdles 13.23
1989 European Indoor Championships The Hague, Netherlands 10th (h) 60 m hurdles 8.31
1990 Commonwealth Games Auckland, New Zealand 3rd 100 m hurdles 13.31
European Championships Split, Yugoslavia 14th (sf) 100 m hurdles 13.37
1991 World Indoor Championships Seville, Spain 10th (sf) 60 m hurdles 8.15
World Championships Tokyo, Japan 18th (h) 100 m hurdles 13.33
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain 25th (h) 100 m hurdles 13.42

(#) Indicates overall position in qualifying heats (h) or semi-finals (sf).

National titles

  • AAAs National 100 metres hurdles Champion (1990)
  • 2-Time UK National 100 metres hurdles Champion (1987, 1991)
  • 4-Time AAAs Indoor 60 metres hurdles Champion (1986, 1987, 1989 & 1991)
  • 2-Time English Schools 100 metres hurdles Champion (1985, 1986)

References

  1. ^ "AAAs Indoor Championships (Women)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  2. ^ http://www.todor66.com/athletics/world/indoor_1987/Women_60m_Hurdles.html
  3. ^ "AAAs Championships (Women)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  4. ^ "AAAs Indoor Championships (Women)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  5. ^ http://www.powerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=100HW&agegroup=All&sex=W&alltime=y
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