SENSATIONAL OPENER - GAME ON FOR 2016!

David Bolarinwa European Junior Champion in 2011, and World Junior finalist in 2012, is back!  A sensational 10.35 (wind +0.4m/s) opening 100m run yesterday (22/4) was his fastest in three years, and spurred training partner Oweka Wanogho to his first lifetime best since 2012.

David Bolarinwa is all smiles after his season
opening 100m shot him into the top five
rankings in the UK, his fastest sprint since 2013.

Wanogho clung to David's coat tails until around halfway when the former world class junior pulled away to decimate all but one of the field, while Wanogho hung on to third with 10.69s, shattering his previous fastest ever time.

It was a huge boost for the whole of Trackspeed1-UK who were eagerly awaiting news from the rain-soaked Percy Beard track facility, in Gainesville, Florida.  The meeting had been suspended for almost two hours, putting their record-breaking performances on hold, and adding to the pressure of a season's opener.

It is of course, early days, but after three seasons away, David's first year back with Trackspeed1-UK since 2012 would appear to hold great promise.  His run was his fourth fastest ever, and ranks as fifth fastest in the UK.  Wanogho himself crept into the top 10 in the UK for the first time ever.

Conditions ultimately were pretty good despite torrential rain holding up proceedings for a substantial period, which won't have helped preparations, with a season's opening competition always an added pressure.  The rain returned for the 200m later in the day, but the meet pushed on, and duly produced another lifetime best for John Powell's squad.

A double rainbow decorates a rain-soaked Gainesville
track where Trackspeed1-UK athletes completed
outstanding season debut performances

Nic Baker had never gone under 22 seconds in his life, but braved the wet to record 21.83s, one hundredth behind Wanogho, who is clearly destined to go much faster this year.

The results triggered a host of messaging within the remainder of the group who were unable to compete, with recent internal time trials suggesting that most athletes are on course for lifetime best performances this year, and that the coach's timing in training might have been accurate after all!

"It's incredibly early days," said John Powell who couldn't help but punch the air when Bolarinwa's time was revealed, "but it's great to get an endorsement of someone's form so early on.  We know what David is capable of, and we know that both Oweka and Nic are in the form of their lives.

"Now all we have to do is ensure the rest of the group prove that they are too!"

Virtually the whole squad will open up their UK season at Newham on May 8th.