ELLINGTON EXPLODES INTO ACTION!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington cast a winter of discontent behind him at bedford on Sunday (May 31st), and produced the second fastest 200 metres of his life - on the opening day of his season!

Competing in the Bedford International Games, the 23-year-old who has been battling hamstring and sciatic nerve problems since January, finally proved that he is back to form - and boy how he showed it! His 21.06 second blast saw off all but gateshead's Richard Kilty, who recorded a lifetime's best of 20.80. (He is pictured in lane 4 in an earlier 100m race). With a negligible 0.1m/s tail wind it was a run that staggered coach John Powell.

"I knew James was getting back to his old self, and he's looked really impresive in training of late, but we didn't really think he had quite enough gas in the tank to produce a significant 200m yet," he said. "But this puts a completely different complexion on things. He could have a really great season and turn a few heads in the process now."

Ellington had earlier opened up his 2009 account with a fine 10.66s run over 100 metres despite a headwind of -2.9m/s which, if reversed, would have converted that performnce to a personal best inside 10.3.

It was a great opening meet also for Trackspeed1's number one 400m sprinter Set Osho. Another athlete who had been struggling with niggles for a fair bit of the winter produced one of his fastest 400's ever, recording 47.58s to win his race.

"Set executed his race perfectly," said Powell, "he went out hard, consolidated mid-race, and then had the strength to push on down the final straight. He's going to pb this year for sure, and I don't mind going on record to say so!"

As if this wasn't enough, 16-year-old Tom Bensted was in the same race, confronted with senior opposition for the first time ever, and was rewarded with a draw on the outside lane! Yet he still finished fifth with one of his fastest times - 49.43s - which puts him well over a second faster than this time last year!

The only slight disappointment of the day was Frederica Foster's 57.40s run in her 400m race, but being swamped with GCSE exams at present, it may be a couple of weeks before she rekindles the form that took her to 56.22 indoors in February.