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FLYING HIGH: Proctor

AT SATURDAY'S (February 18) indoor Birmingham Aviva Grand Prix, long jumper Shara Proctor stole the show by leaping her way into the British record books.

The 23-year-old Anguilla-born athlete produced two national records on her way to winning the long jump competition with 6.80m, placing her fifth on the world rankings for 2012.

Proctor, who made the switch to Team GB in November 2010, is one of a clutch of athletes who have taken advantage of their right to compete in the red, white and blue of Britain.

With no national Olympic Committee in Anguilla and the tiny island being a British overseas territory, it was a no-brainer for Proctor to utilise her eligibility. And what a great coup it could be.

By her own admission, the Berlin World Championship finalist has never started an indoor season so well.

Talking to the Voice of Sport following her win in Birmingham, Proctor said:

“In my mind I had 6.71m because I had a dream. So I came out aiming at that.

“Then after I jumped that I said, ‘Shara you can go further,’ so I did and I jumped 6.80m.

“I have the best coach and he knows what to get out of me. I just want to be in a position to get the British outdoor record.”

Looking back at other pleasing aspects of the day, Proctor added: “I’m excited about the crowd. I love this crowd; it feels good to jump at home and really helps me jump further.”

Other recently adopted Brits, yet to be established as household names, also did well at the Birmingham Aviva Grand Prix.

US-born sprinter Shana Cox continued her excellent start to the 2012 season by winning and setting a personal best in the 400m at the Grand Prix. Guided by coach Lloyd Cowan, Cox, 27, is a 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association 400m champion.

LEADING THE FIELD: Cox

Currently in eighth place on the world 400m rankings, Cox’s decision to utilise her dual citizenship came about due to most of her family being based in London.

Her addition to the Team GB set-up adds strength to the potential for both individual and relay medals in the women’s 400m.

Last year’s World Championships 400m final in Daegu was won in an impressive 49.56s by Amantle Montsho in a memorable tussle of will and determination which saw the Botswana athlete fend off the hot favourite Allyson Felix.

Whether or not Cox is able to mix it with those stellar athletes remains to be seen and she will have to bring her personal best down considerably to do so.

However, she has demonstrated the wherewithal to do it.

Talking to the Voice of Sport earlier this year at the Glasgow Aviva International Match, Cuban-born triple jumper Yamilé Aldama said she planned to be a busy woman in 2012.

A little way off the world leaders at present, expect Aldama, who acquired British citizenship in February 2010 following a brief stint competing for Sudan, to get nearer to her best of 14.90m.

Currently being guided by coach Frank Attoh, Aldama, 39, is a wily competitor on her day. At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu she produced a 14.50m effort, which placed her in fifth spot.

Tiffany Porter, the Daegu world championship finalist, has been busy overseas so far this year. The 100m hurdles national record holder looks set to do big things.

OVERSEAS: Porter (centre)

Currently lying in second place in the UK rankings behind Ennis, expect Porter to have extra fire in her belly this year following a disappointing end to her Daegu experience where she spectacularly hit a hurdle in the final.

The mishap meant she finished fourth, denying her what seemed like a certain medal placing.

Earlier in that season however, Porter picked up the silver medal in the 60m hurdles at the European Indoor Championships.

A British passport holder since she was born, the former US athlete, whose mother is British, also had the option of competing for Nigeria.