TRACKSPEED1 UK HAVE TURNED THE CORNER - POWELL!

As the domestic season approaches its final phase, it really does seem that Crystal Palace-based Trackspeed1 UK have turned the corner with the majority of their athletes setting lifetime bests again this year, not to mention the blooding of Kieran Daly as an international athlete.

The 2012 season was arguably their most successful ever, and 2013 their worst after the group was ravaged by athletes being tempted to pastures new, but in  2014 one of the most successful sprints groups in the country is once more on a roll.

Kieran Daly’s initiation on Friday and Saturday as a member of the British international set-up may not have been pretty in the Glasgow Diamond League (he false started in the 100m and was involved in a disqualification in the relay), but the truth is that he has transformed from 10.58 mediocrity to 10.18 excellence in little more than a month.

"When you have bad days at the office like that, you have two choices," commented head coach John Powell.  "You can go into your shell, sulk, and let it ruin your season - and self-confidence - or you can learn from it, put is behind you, and darn well get on with it.  I know Kieran will have no hesitation with the latter!"

Then take 26-year-old Jason Hussain, whose lifestyle change forced temporary retirement in 2013. He returned this year and is already back to close to his fastest ever 100 and 200 metre times – no mean achievement indeed.

 

Jason Hussain in action last week in the British League, in Peterborough
for his Crawley club.  He won both 100m and 200m events.

Other members of the group including James Kasire-Sebalu, Calvin Kirstein, and Peter Olusakin, have all PB’d at their own levels, but better has surely yet to come with a number of new faces entering the group ready for the next training cycle that John Powell says could see very significant improvement by the majority.

“I’m changing the routine this next year,” he said.  “It’s no secret that my motivation levels plummeted in 2013, but I’ve really got the bug back this last year, and I’m determined my athletes get the best chance to cavort at the highest possible level in 2015.”

There have still been disappointments in 2014 with injury ravaging the summer season for the likes of England International Josh Swaray, Italian Junior squad sprinter Frederick Afrifa, and English Schools international Fawwaz Okunola, but their coach reckons that will make them doubly dedicated and determined for next time round.

“It’s a huge frustration for any athlete to lose a season through injury after all the rigours and pain of winter workouts,” he said, “but we have an excellent mix of talent now, especially with a few new faces, and I do believe this may be one of the strongest groups we’ve had in a while in both depth and individual talent.”

Members of the squad are next in action at the Loughborough European International meeting this Saturday (19^th).