Home city hat-trick is on for Jessica Ennis as Chambers coasts

On the track where she has spent incalculable hours this winter honing her craft and seeking incremental gains, Jessica Ennis turned the pursuit of another small slice of history into a mere training exercise yesterday as she prepares to chase the European indoor title next month. Bidding to become the first athlete to win three separate events at the UK Indoor Championships in her native Sheffield, the world heptathlon champion soared to victory in the high jump in 1.88 metres.

With the meeting doubling as the trials, Ennis could, potentially, claim another two victories today in the long jump and in her favoured 60m hurdles. Only an Achilles niggle which first appeared in training this week might force her to take precautions but she is in confident mood.

"I felt I could have jumped higher," admitted Ennis, who will bid to repeat her recent hurdling triumph in Glasgow over American Lolo Jones when she rounds off her preparation for Paris at next weekend's Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

"It's always a confidence thing in high jump. You don't do it so much in training because of the load on your legs and feet. It felt comfortable and I've no problem ending on that and going into the Europeans."

With only the top two in each event guaranteed selection, Chris Baillie readily admitted he failed to make even the weakest of cases. The 2006 Commonwealth Games medallist was only seventh in the 60m hurdles, a gulf behind his friend and former contemporary Andy Turner. "There's something not quite right just now," sad the Scot. "I'm lacking flat speed but it's not the only thing that's wrong."

The new slimline Dwain Chambers - reigning world indoor 60 metres champion - coasted to his fourth UK crown in 6.57 seconds. With Harry Aikines Aryeetey claiming the second automatic place, the selectors now face a dilemma when they convene tomorrow over whether to take Craig Pickering, who finished third, or Mark Lewis-Francis who came fourth. Elsewhere, 17-year-old prodigy Jodie Williams won the women's 60 metres in her very first senior outing. Guy Learmonth, the 18-year-old from Lasswade, won his 800 metres heat in 1.52.52 to breeze into today's final.

Now based in Loughborough, his tactical education was obvious as he plotted his path. "I can still improve," he said. "I'll be going for gold, certainly a medal." This afternoon, Scotland's Commonwealth Games semi-finalist Alistair Hay goes in the 3000m.