Helen Thorpe (athlete)

Helen Daniel (née Thorpe, born 24 October 1963) is an English former athlete who competed mainly in the 800 metres. She won the 800m title at the 1990 UK Championships, and finished third at the AAA Championships in 1986, 1987 and 1988.[1] Her 800m lifetime best of 2:01.86 was set on 10 July 1987 in London.

Helen Daniel
née Thorpe
Personal information
NationalityEnglish
Born (1963-10-24) 24 October 1963 (age 61)
Wortley, West Riding of Yorkshire
Sport
SportAthletics
ClubCambridge Harriers AC

Career

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A member of Cambridge Harriers AC, Thorpe finished second at the 1986 AAA Indoor Championships behind Kirsty Wade,[2] second at the 1986 UK Championships in a then personal best of 2:02.02 behind Anne Purvis, and third at the 1986 AAA Championships in 2:05.14 behind Diane Edwards and Lorraine Baker, before going on to represent England in the 800 metres event at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she was eliminated in the heats running a time of 2:05.61.[3][4][5]

Thorpe achieved her lifetime best of 2:01.86 at the 1987 London grand prix event on 10 July at the Crystal Palace,[6] and finished third at the 1987 AAA Championships behind Edwards and Purvis in 2:04.61. At the 1988 AAA Championships/Olympic trials, she finished third in 2:03.06 behind Kirsty Wade and Shireen Bailey. She went on to reach the semifinals at the 1990 European Indoor Championships and to win the 800m title at the 1990 UK Championships in 2:05.52, ahead of Lorraine Baker[7]

Competing as Helen Daniel, she finished second at the AAA Indoor Championships in 1991 (behind Paula Fryer) and 1992 (behind Dawn Gandy), and finished fourth at the 1994 AAA Championships.

Competition record

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Year Competition Venue Position Notes
Representing   England
1986 Commonwealth Games Edinburgh, Scotland 10th (h) 2:05.61
Representing   Great Britain
1990 European Indoor Championships Glasgow, Scotland 10th (sf) 2:07.08
National Championships
1986 AAA Indoor Championships RAF Cosford, England 2nd 2:05.22
UK Championships Cwmbran, Wales 2nd 2:02.02
AAA Championships Birmingham, England 3rd 2:05.14
1987 UK Championships Derby, England 6th 2:04.34
AAA Championships Birmingham, England 3rd 2:04.61
1988 AAA Championships Birmingham, England 3rd 2:03.06
1990 UK Championships Cardiff, Wales 1st 2:05.52
1991 AAA Indoor Championships RAF Cosford, England 2nd 2:09.59
1992 AAA Indoor Championships RAF Cosford, England 2nd 2:07.93
AAA Championships Birmingham, England 8th 2:05.79
1994 AAA Championships Sheffield, England 4th 2:??.??
(#) Indicates overall position in qualifying heats (h) or semifinals (sf)

References

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  1. ^ "AAA Championships (Women)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  2. ^ "AAA Indoor Championships (Women)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  3. ^ "1986 Athletes". Team England.
  4. ^ "England team in 1986". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  6. ^ "800m Overall All-time Women". Power of 10. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  7. ^ "UK Championships". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
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