TRACKSPEED1 BACK FROM STATESIDE PREP'

Trackspeed1 take time out for a quick photo-call before leaving
their warm weather training base in Florida.

Trackspeed1 athletes fly back to the UK this weekend after a month's pre-season training in the United States which, says coach John Powell, sees his squad return to home shores in great shape!  They have spent the last four weeks training at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, in Orlando, Florida.

Their first competition will, in most cases, be the Loughborough international on Sunday 22nd after a week's recovery work back at their Crystal Palace base.

"It's been a terrific trip this year," said John, speaking from their Florida base shortly before starting out on the return journey.  "The seniors who travelled out with us made the most of both the training opportunity and the competitions we went to.  We also this year had a number of younger guys here, who have really grown both as athletes and individuals.  Personal bests have been mixed in with some really promising times in training, and I honestly can't wait for the season to get going now."

It was certainly a huge opportunity for some of the younger athletes in Florida who, along with their senior counterparts, enjoyed the benefits of training alongside US coach Brooks Johnson's squad, including former Olympic and World Champion sprinter Justin Gatlin.

John Powell ives video feedback to former Olympic and World Gold medalist,
Justin Gatlin, at the ESPN track. 

All the athletes in Florida return with competition plans already discussed and documented with their coach , and highlights will centre on fixtures like the South of England Championships, the Bedford International Games, the European Under-20 and under-23 trials, subsequent European Championships, and then World Championship trials.

World number one under-18 over 100m last year, David Bolarinwa, will be among the favourites for selection for the European Junior Championships in Tallin, Estonia, in July, while Dwayne Grant, and James Ellington head the senior challenge.  In the under-23 age-group, Lawrence Wooldridge (200m) and Matt Threadgold (400m) could figure well in national finals.