NICOLA Sanders and Hayley Yelling were both triumphant in the AAA Championships last Sunday.

Sanders won her place at next year's Commonwealth Games with a stunning victory in the Manchester event.

The Amersham resident, who runs for Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow (WSEH) AC, smashed her personal best to win the 400m hurdles in 55.61 seconds.

She said: "I crossed the line and I saw the clock and I was a little bit shocked at the time.

"I was ecstatic."

Sanders ran well in her heat to qualify for the final where she was up against Scot Lee McConnell, who began the final well and was well ahead on 200m.

Sanders, 23, said: "I knew I could win but with hurdling, you can't afford to look at anyone else. I just wanted to focus on my hurdles.

"I just felt really strong when I came round the final bend. She was ahead of me but I hurdled well and she hit one."

Sanders was then interviewed live on BBC by former 400m hurdles Olympic champion and World record holder Sally Gunnell.

She said: "I thought it would be scary but it was more of a chat to be honest."

The victory was good enough to earn her qualification to the Commonwealth Games but she was an agonising 0.01 seconds outside qualifying for August's World Championships in Helsinki.

Sanders now has this weekend and next to run 55.60 to get the A standard and guarantee qualification.

She is hoping to run this weekend in Greece and has another chance next weekend in Belgium.

Sanders said: "I could still be picked if I don't make the time but if Lee runs the A standard, they'll definitely take her.

"But I'm also hoping to be chosen for the 4x400m relay as well.

"I definitely want to get on the relay squad."

This season has seen Sanders in superb form as she lowered her personal best from 58 seconds to Sunday's time.

She said: "It was always there but I trained well over the winter and I've avoided injury and that's important."

Also running in the 400m hurdles was Marika Reed. The WSEH athlete finished third in her heat but her time was not enough to guarantee selection for the European Juniors and she must now wait for the verdict of the selectors.

Meanwhile, Yelling added the AAA 5,000m title to her growing collection of championship crowns on Sunday. The Sir William Borlase's maths teacher produced a sprint finish in a slow race to win in 15 minutes, 45.67 seconds.

But the time was too slow for Yelling to qualify for the 5,000m at the World Championships.

The Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow athlete said: "I wanted to go for it, but with the weather it was a no-go."

Yelling now heads for Belgium on July 23 to try and gain the Helsinki qualifying time of 15.08.70.