ELLINGTON JOINS THE ELITE

James Ellington with coach John Powell

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington is back alongside the elite of British Athletics after a scintillating 100m run in Germany yesterday (Saturday 5th).

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier clocked 10.28s with virtually no following wind to record the second fastest 100m of his illustrious career on the track to date.  It was a performance that easily outstripped his best of 10.27s which was aided by a slight wind behind him in Belgium last year, and finally confirmed he is the in-form sprinter this year.

Most importantly James beat all his British counterparts, including Tyrone Edgar and others, which puts him in a very strong position when it comes to selection decisions later in the year.

"James has at last worked his way through to the top," said a delighted coach John Powell, "and we know already he will be in the squad competing in the Europa Cup in Norway in 2 weeks time.

"It's terrific job satisfaction having seen him come through from age 13 to now, within the TS1 set-up bar two seasons.  At the trials in 3 weeks' time he's a podium hope now rather than hoping he might scrape into the final."

Ellington travels again this next weekend when coach John Powell joins him, along with fellow Trackspeed1 training partners Dwayne Grant and Jason Hussain in a competition in Geneva, Switzerland, where all three athletes will be hoping for favourable conditions to facilitate a good performance ahead of the European Championship Trials in Birmingham 2 weeks later.

Ellington faces a busy weekend as, if everything goes to plan, he will also contest the 200m South of England Championship, at Crystal Palace, on Sunday.

"We've not had great conditions to run in this summer," said John Powell, "and all the times so far have been wind-assisted apart from James in Germany yesterday.  We need some legal marks to take th pressure off a little so we can then just get on with the running."