Chris Tomlinson goes into Commonwealth Games with a victory in London Anniversary Games
Chris Tomlinson - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
Chris Tomlinson will go into next week’s Commonwealth Games long jump competition brimming with confidence after a morale-boosting victory at the London Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade in Westminster on Sunday.
Having endured an injury-hit summer, the Hampstead resident jumped 7.94m to beat British champion JJ Jegede (7.88m), USA’s world and London 2012 Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton (7.87m) and Christian Taylor (7.74m) – also a gold medallist at triple jump from London 2012.
“I knew my body was on its limits and if I was pushing it too much I could have tolled myself in, but fortunately I didn’t,” said Tomlinson. “The opportunity to compete against Christian and Ashton is good as they are both cracking guys.
“I could have jumped further if I had the opportunity but I didn’t need to so it’s fine.
“Just to be coming back into it after not going near a sand pit for six weeks is great. I guess this is the time to peak but obviously I just go back and relax and start thinking about the Commonwealth Games.
“I got a world indoor medal, I got a European outdoor one, I’ve been fifth and sixth in the Olympics so I’m sure I can get on that rostrum.”
Tomlinson recorded a winning 8.23m effort in Bottrop, Germany, back in June but the 32-year-old then picked up a calf injury at Internationales Pfingstsportfest in Rehlingen – which threatened to end his 2014 campaign along with his Commonwealth Games ambitions.
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“I never jumped as far legally for a long time,” said Tomlinson. “I felt awesome and wanted to do a personal best.
“I said in my next competition that’s what I’m going to do but, straight away, I got injured in Rehlingen and I thought I’d lost the season.”
The Team England representative returned to competitive action in Monaco last Friday with a fourth-placed 7.94m effort.
And then, with his domestic rival and London Olympic champion Greg Rutherford pulling out of the Horse Guards Parade event at the weekend due to an injury he picked up in Glasgow two weeks ago, Tomlinson topped centre stage with another 7.94m leap.
He will be in action at Glasgow’s Hampden Park in the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
