Athletics: Freeman springs surprise

Jun 23 2009 by Peter Barrow, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MIRFIELD sprinter Emily Freeman produced a surprise with victory for Great Britain in the 100m at the European Team Championships in Leiria, Portugal.

Freeman, an Olympic 200m semi-finalist last August in Beijing, stepped down in distance to 100m to replace Ashlee Nelson and unexpectedly defeated Nataliya Pohrebnyak and Marika Popowicz.

The 28-year-old Wakefield Harrier was modest in the analysis of her display after also impressing with her time of 11.42secs and was looking ahead to the IAAF World Championships in Berlin in August.

“I’m obviously very happy with the victory,” she said.

“The time was okay. I hope to be in better form in Berlin.”