Parker competed at the World Indoor Championships in March

Barbara Parker confirmed her position as Britain's top 3000m steeplechaser at the UK Championship in Birmingham.

She took the UK title with a time of 9 minutes 37.77 seconds, running most of the race comfortably ahead.

The 27-year-old from King's Lynn said she was going to work hard ahead of next month's European Championships.

"I've got four or five weeks now to get in some flat races, tune up and get some speed work going, just try and get fast now," she said.

Parker had already achieved a qualifying time for the Barcelona championships, but she was pleased to make the time again given how the race unfolded.

"The main goal was to come here and win really, the time was irrelevant when you've already got the qualifying for Barcelona.

"It's nice to get it again, to know I'm in shape and I can do that and run it by myself," she said.

She admitted that her time could have been better given some more competitive opposition.

"I don't mind it, but it makes it difficult to push on in the last 1000m, and that's really when you can improve your best.

"It's OK, to run under 9:40 consistently is important this year," she added.

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