BOLARINWA'S CLEAN SWEEP

David Bolarinwa with coach John Powell, in Tallinn, after the 17-year-
old cleaned up with a full set of medals at the European Junior
Championships.

David Bolarinwa became only the second British male athlete in history to land three medals at a major junior championship, after he added silver to his 100m bronze and 200m gold today (Sunday).  See previous blog stories for a full round-up and photo's...


A scintillating run on anchor leg of the sprint relay almost hauled in the leading French team, but finished barely a tenth of a second behind, with one of the fastest times by a British junior quartet in years of 39.48s.

It was almost the perfect end to a week of high drama, after the devastation at sliding to third in the 100m on Friday, yet bouncing back with a world class gold medal-winning 200m the day after.

"It's been a real roller-coaster of a ride," said a delighted coach John Powell, "but this has encapsulated some of my proudest moments as a coach to a junior.  There have been a few, but for David to bounce back from the huge disappointment of his 100m performance was very impressive indeed."

The immediate reaction of the British quartet was one of huge disappointment at not beating the French, but they slowly realised they had run a very classy time, and the team from France were a very impressive act, not least 100m Champion Jimmy Vicaut, whose 10.07s 100m on Friday was nothing short of breathtaking.

David will now return to the UK with little time even to draw breath, as he launches straight back into action on Friday night in the rounds of the 100m at the World Championship trials, in Birmingham.  After that, he and coach John Powell will sit down and map out the finale to his season which may involve one more foray into a European Permit meeting.

Elsewhere in Trackspeed1, final preparations are being put together for the trials meeting next weekend.  At the forefront of Powell's thoughts will be James Ellington, who goes in a hotly-contested 200m on Sunday.  He should be right in the mix for selection to the World Championships, in South Korea, at the end of August if he continues the outstanding form he has shown to date in 2011.

In the 100m and 200m will be Jason Hussain, who hit lifetime best form just at the right time this weekend, and he will be joined in the 100m by Alex Ojo, and in the 200m by Kieran Daly and Lawrence Wooldridge.

So seven Trackspeed1 athletes will be taking part in the UK Athletics showpiece of the season and, if most perform to potential, they will confirm 2011 as one of the most outstanding seasons in the squad's history!

James Ellington will be looking to impact on
the 200m at the Birmingham trials, as David
Bolarinwa (left of picture) will debut at his
first ever senior championships