Helen is off to her first nationals

Friday 4th July 2008, 2:29PM BST.

HELEN HADJAM could have won herself a place at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but is more definite about where she will be next weekend.

Her latest island record-breaking run over 800m, achieved at the BMC Watford Gold Standard meeting, took her for the first time under the 2min. 10sec. barrier.

That mark is the standard set for Commonwealth Games selection and – in the short term more importantly to the London-based schoolteacher – enables her to make her first appearance at the full UK championships and Olympic trials at Manchester in eight days’ time.

Hadjam (pictured), formerly Helen Tolcher, clocked 2-09.98 in finishing sixth of nine starters in the A race won by Indian international Sinimole Paulose in 2-03.87.

‘When the man told me the time I could have hugged him,’ said a still excited Hadjam yesterday.