BOLARINWA TAKES WORLD SILVER

Sixteen-year-old wonder-kid, David Bolarinwa, grabbed a superb 100 metres silver at the World Schools Championships, in Qatar last week. And his time of 10.76s was the second fastest of his life, despite the event coming in December when most sprinters are grafting through speed endurance and conditioning work!

He was beaten by fellow Brit, Jordan Arthur (10.67s), but with Arthur entering the under-20 ranks in 2010, and David still an under-17, David's performance simply underlined his immense promise as a real contender for honours in the not-too-distant future.

"There's no two ways about it," said coach John Powell, "David is a talent, and his silver medal at the Worlds was very well deserved, but he knows he has a very long way to go to break through to the big time in the real world.

"He hasn't been in Trackspeed1 for long to be fair, but I can say that he has already shown huge potential, and some of the seniors are already beginning to take him under their wing. He has big issues with his start and drive phase that need alot of work, but that is great news, because with a few basics being sorted pout, he can obviously run alot faster."

David is hoping to go warm weather training with his new squad to Florida in April, and that would represent a massive opportunity for him to prepare perfectly for his summer season, but that will depend on whether he gets funding to support him or not. He has already been rejected for Lottery funding, so only time will tell !

POWELL SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS COACHING AWARD

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell scooped a high profile award at the recent Sportscoach UK coaching awards night, in Old Billingsgate, London.

The prestigious award, made at a glittering ceremony MC'd by BBC presenter John Inverdale, recognised John and the three other coaches who had been instrumental in guiding Triple Jumper Phillips Idowu's career to his World Championship gold in 2009.

The rewarding coaching excellence 'coaching chain' award was presented by Phillips on stage in front of a 600-strong audience, to his school teacher Humphrey Long, John Powell, who coached him as a junior, and John Herbert plus current coach Aston Moore.

Phillips spent four profitable seasons with Trackspeed1, peaking with a fourth place in the European Junior Championships, in Slovenia, in 1997. He improved from 12.32m to 16.36m bneforr moving on to John Herbert as a senior athlete.

Kevin Tyler, Strategic Head of Coaching and Development for UK Athletics, said: "This was a well deserved award. This is a great example of four coaches working unselfishly to help shape Phillips' life and athletic career. All (sic) are to be commended, the sport is fortunate to have you".

John Powell said: "I was delighted we won the award, it was a lovely evening, and great to have it presented by the athlete. Phillips is a superb example of what young athletes can achieve even if they aren't majopr medal winners in early years."