Susan realised some of her potential in 2001 by equalling the long standing British record for the High Jump of 1.95m. It is widely believed that it is only a matter of time before she breaks the two metre barrier and regularly challenges the world’s very best. Susan’s major achievements include winning a Silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, staged just a few miles from where she lives.

Susan has won the British Junior Athlete of the Year Award in 1997, when she placed fourth in the European Under 20 Championships in Ljubijana and equalled the British junior record of 1.91 metres. The next winter, when still only a teenager she improved her personal best to 1.92m to gain an impressive sixth place at the European Indoors in Valencia. She returned to form following injury in 2000 when she was ranked as British number one but was unfortunate to clear the Olympic qualifying height of 1.93m a week after the selection deadline. Coached by Simon Nathan, Susan began the outdoor season in 2001 in sensational form by clearing 1.94m at the Loughborough televised match in May. A month later she improved to 1.95m to tie the 19 year old British record, but more importantly in doing so she won the European Cup, the most significant victory by a British woman in the event for more than 25 years.
Her first AAA Outdoor title followed and Susan went on to place 13th in qualifying at the World Championships in Edmonton before finishing a long season with a creditable fourth at the World Student Games in Beijing. Susan’s 2002 Indoor Season was hampered by the lack of suitable indoor facilities and saw her local Wigan track condemned. Despite this setback that resulted in her having to jump off a short approach, Susan placed 5th at the European Indoor Championships in Vienna, equalling her best ever jump indoors of 1.92m.