OSHO IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE - JUST LIKE SAV'!

Trackspeed1 400m sprinter Set Osho showed yet again just what a class act he is developing into, as he breezed to a South of England Championship gold medal in a lifetime's fastest mark at Watford today (Sunday 21st).

Set, who has now improved on every single one of his seven outings this season, clocked a best ever 46.70s as he anihilated the field on the home straight in the final. In an immensely competitive event his year, it leaves him ranked eleventh in the UK overall, but he was barely in the top 25 three weeks ago!

Set's weekend got off to a roaring start with a season's best in the heat of 47.46, having eaten up the entire stagger on the rest by the half-way mark, and cruising in the last 80 metres. The semi was a similar run, but saw him keep the gas on to the line to record a massive personal breakthrough, with a best ever 46.76 - a time he shaved a further six hundredths off in the final the following day.

"Set was always capable of running far faster than he has done over the past three years or so," said a delighted coach John Powell, "but he undoubtedly has a long way to go yet if he is to impact on the immense depth the event has now in this country, but he is more than capable.

"His tactics weren't great in the final, and I certainly think he could have worked alot harder on the first bend, but it has to be positive if a guy is recording personal bests and still has obvious aspects of his race that can improve."

Laura wins again

In the Midland Championships, Laura Langowski chalked up an amazing fifth consecutive title as she cruised to a 55.29s win, made even more impressive given the wind and rain prevailing there (Watford was basking in sunshine and blue skies!) And as if that was not enough, she took fifth in the 200m in 25.4s - hand-timed after the electronic equipment had been packed away early!!

Savannah shines
Also in lifetime best form at Watford, was Savannah Echel-Thomson, whose excellent indoor form took a dive during the latter stages of winter due to shin soreness issues. But Watford saw her produce what she had threatened to do for some time.

Running in the Junior Women's 400m final, Sav' ran a far more solid race than in the heat when she had run the first 200m far too hard, and came home in sixth place in a best ever 56.43s.

"Sav's performance was all the better when you consider that it was from out in lane seven," said Powell, "and it was an incredibly close finish between a number of girls. We are delighted for Sav' though, because she has been frustrated by injury for so long, and we know she is worth far faster outdoors than her overall pb of 56.77, which she ran indoors in February."

Elsewhere, Frederica Foster disappointed in the 400m heats in Saturday, getting eliminatd with one her slowest runs of the year of 57.90s, but with huge academic pressures that only ended 24 hours before, her form is now fully expected to return to that which holds her as the fastest over 300m at under-17 level in the UK this year.

Powell seeths
The championship weekend got off to an incredibly sour start for Trackspeed1 coach John Powell and British International sprinter, and former South of England Champion, James Ellington. Despite Powell handing in his entry to the SEAA office in April, they denied ever receiving it, and refused James a place in either sprints event!

"This is athletics at its worst," seethed John, "and I'm sure the officials are saying it's me causing problems again. But I know I handed the entry in, and I am puzzled as to why, when there are any problems or queries about entries, it is always with the SEAA and nobody else!

"I understand the rationale behind not allowing entries on the day, but the truth is, their system of no acknowledgement of entries until it is too late after the closing date is fundamentally flawed. They should either collate entries online, or send an immediate acknowledgement. It is an absolute disgrace that an athlete like James should have his whole season compromised by being excluded from this meeting.

"I am also appalled at the way the meeting ran up to an hour late on day one, and the fact that nobody checked to see if there were enough huirdles for the event. What a farce, what a disgrace, but of course all you get at the end of the day is self congratulation by officials on catching up half the time. Consideration for athletes doesn't even enter the equation."