Bodman collapses after clinching title

Tuesday 28th October 2008, 2:29PM GMT.

ERICA BODMAN has marked her first year in rowing with a national title.

The 20-year-old former Island Games triple high jump champion (pictured), won the national students’ title at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

The Cambridge University student blew away the 45-strong field with a winning personal best time of 7min. 17.1sec. for 2,000 metres on the stationary Concept2 indoor rowing machine.

She gave it her all to the extent that she collapsed at the finish and required urgent treatment by the medics and missed the medal ceremony.

Bodman won by eight seconds – the equivalent of 40 to 50 metres – but was outside the time she had set herself.

‘I had hoped for a 7-10, but I couldn’t have tried any harder.

‘I wasn’t very well in the week and was able to do only two light training sessions. I completely buried myself.’