The fastest British women’s hurdler, Colchester’s Sarah Claxton, is preparing for the athletics World Championships which take place in Helsinki this August. Sarah took a break from her training last week (20 May) to help launch a new Website for local solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon who have backed her with financial support since before the Olympics in 2004.

Sarah, aged 24, had remarkable success this spring in the AAA Indoor and Norwich Union international competitions. She won three successive championships, running personal bests and setting a new UK record of 7.96 seconds for 60m hurdles. Although not winning a medal in the European Indoors she is optimistic about the forthcoming Worlds, having just returned from training in America.

“We are very much enjoying being a small part of Sarah’s success by helping her with her costs for travelling to competitions. We’re delighted that she has taken time to come and help us launch our new Website during a break from her busy training schedule”, said Julian Wilson, Partner,Thompson Smith & Puxon.

Sarah trains mostly at CrystalPalace although she is still connected to Colchester & Tendring AC, where she trained initially as a long jumper before switching to 100m hurdles. She attended Monkwick infant and junior schools and ThomasLaudAudleySchool.

Thompson Smith & Puxon has a new website at www.tsplegal.com which features the support for Sarah Claxton on the news pages.

Sarah’s training paid off with a win this week-end (22 May) in the 100m hurdles at an international competition in Loughborough, part of her build up programme to the World Championships.