Meghan Beesley

meghan_beesleyEvent: 400m Hurdles

Date Of Birth 15 November 1989

Born: Nuneaton

Lives: Polesworth/ Loughborough University

Club: Birchfield Harriers

Coach: Trevor Marsay

 

International Highlights

2008 World Junior Under 20 Championships 400m hurdles bronze medal

2007 European Under 20 4×400m Relay silver; 400m hurdles 6th;

 

National Honours

2006 AAA U17 300m hurdles gold;

British Schools Pentathlon gold; English Schools heptathlon gold,

2007 England U20 400m hurdles gold; English Schools U19 silver;

England U20 Indoor 200m bronze; England Indoor pentathlon 4th;

2008 UKA Indoor 400m gold;

England U20 Indoor pentathlon gold;

England U20 100mh & 400mh gold,

 

Personal Best Performances

100m 11.64 (2007), 200m 24.11 (2007), 200m 23.97i (2008),

400m 54.31i (2008); 2:17.88i (2008),

100m hurdles 13.77 (2008), 400m hurdles 57.08 (2008),

High Jump 1.66m (2008), Long Jump 5.96m indoor (2008),

Shot 9.96m indoor (2008), Javelin 30.87m (2008),

Heptathlon 5,291 points (2008)

 

Career summary

Meghan accomplished many early successes in her athletics career as a member of her local athletics club, Tamworth AC where, as now, she was coached by Trevor Marsay who coached Kelly Sotherton to her first selection for England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.  As a junior athlete she was a very successful multi-eventer, taking Gold at the English Schools heptathlon in 2006.Meghan is currently studying maths and sports science at Loughborough University.

 

What are your targets for 2009 and then on to 2012

In 2009 I am aiming for the European Under 23 Championships in Kaunas, to continue where I finished last year. My target after this is definitely the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 2010 and then working towards the ultimate goal of the London 2012 Games.

 

What motivated you to take up the sport and what keeps that motivation going?

I always enjoyed my school sports day so decided to take up athletics. I want to become the best athlete that I can be and I know that I have not reached that point yet.

 

Who has most influenced your athletics career so far and why?

Trevor Marsay who has been my coach for seven years since I was twelve years old.

He has always been there to give me wise words of advice and encouragement which I will always greatly appreciate.

 

Your biggest hero?

My biggest British hero is always going to be Sally Gunnell. She was the Olympic champion and world record holder at my event, which is what I am striving to become.

 

What does the sponsorship / support of AGA mean to you?

I feel grateful to be recognised as a potential 2012 athlete and it will enable me to go warm weather training which is an integral part for my build up the outdoor season.

 

What has been your highlight as a Birchfield Harrier- so far!

Our Junior 4×400m relay quartet breaking the UK Under 20 record at the National Junior Cup Final last September along with Ese Okoro, Ejiro Okoro and  Jade Peak.

 

What else could a higher level of funding do to help your athletics career?

Higher level of funding would enable me to spend more time on concentrating on my training as opposed to having to think about part time employment.