February 21, 2001 9:49: LAURA Patterson led the way as three Wycombe Phoenix athletes struck gold at the British Universities Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow last weekend.

The High Wycombe pole vaulter won her event and was then called up to represent Great Britain at U23 level against France in Cardiff next month.

She took the competition at The Kelvin Hall by storm on a day when three of the top four athletes in her competition matched the previous championship best.

But Patterson, representing Staffordshire University, topped the lot with a faultless performance clearing every height she attempted at the first attempt to set a new championship record of 3.6 metres.

That height has only ever been bettered by two other GB U23 athletes.

Patterson was presented with the gold medal by 1964 Olympic long jump champion, Lynn Davies.

Patterson's closest rivals on the day, Sonia Lawrence (UWIC) and Helen Roscoe (Loughborough) both jumped 3.50 metres to equal the previous championship record.

Following her performance, David Young, the national pole vault coach, told Patterson that he had recommended her for selection for the forthcoming Great Britain Under 23 international.

Also in action in Glasgow was Wycombe Phoenix team mate Nicola Sanders, representing Loughborough University. She came third in her semi-final of the 400 metres and just missed out on a place in the final. However later in the day, Nicola combined with Helen Roscoe in the Loughborough 4 x 200 metres relay team to win gold in the final.

Simon Plaskitt, also of Wycombe Phoenix and Loughborough, reached the final of the mens 400 metres where he finished fifth in an excellent time of 48.9 seconds.

After three 400 metre races in two days, Simon then stormed round the third leg of the mens 4 x 200 metres relay to set up victory for his Loughborough team and secure himself a gold medal.