STATESIDE VISIT STRIKES SILVER

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell travels back to the UK this week after a highly successful trip to the US with three of his senior athletes.

Dwayne Grant (centre of picture above) clinched second in the New England State Championships at Harvard University on Sunday (21st), albeit with a rather modest 60m in 6.91s after stumbling out of the blocks.

Pictured above - Jason Hussain attempts one of the toughest workouts west of the Atlantic - sprinting every section of the football stadium at Harvard University!

Training comrades James Ellington and Jason Hussain enjoyed a good break from their normal training routines.  Hussain made a long awaited return to training after a lengthy lay-off due to a foot problem, whilst Ellington was able to continue an improving winter training campaign after injury and swine flu interrupted his Autumn programme.

Pictured here - Dwayne Grant and James Ellington press ahead with the steps session at Harvard - the backdrop only tells half the story!!

The lasting memory for John Powell, however, was the slick efficiency of running a six-state championship with over 1000 athletes inside four hours!

"There are some real lessons we could learn," he said, "which would make track and field meetings far more attractive to competitors, coaches, officials and spectators alike.

Admittedly they do finals on time - averting the need for heats and semi-finals - but the whole think is over in four hours with a full programme for both genders.  There are no gaps between races, entries are taken on the day (or you can enter online in advance at reduced rate), and the whole thing runs within 15 minutes of its timetable.  Fantastic!"

Powell, who has maintained his links with Harvard ever since former Trackspeed1 Olympian Chris Lambert graduated there in 2003, was also able to maintain coach and athlete links whilst Stateside, and all four even found time for a 48-hour visit to New York.

Powell's travels will continue as son as he returns to the UK though, with a weekend in Birmingham 27/28th for the agegroup national championships.  Trackspeed1's teen sprints ace David Bolarinwa competes in both sprints on a notoriously fast track, and could post a couple of very respectable performances.

"David has been in touch since I was in the USA," said John, "and I gather training has been going well, so it's all systems go for the weekend."