KIERON RUBS SHOULDERS WITH THE BEST

It may not have been the best of performances for 18-year-old Trackspeed1 sprinter Kieron Daly, but it will have been one hell of an experience!

Having set lifetime best performances in both 100m and 200m sprints this year, he was rewarded with the chance of rubbing shoulders with the very best British Athletics has to offer, with a lane in the World Championship Trials 100m last night (Friday 29^th), in Birmingham.

Blackheath & Bromley Harriers' Kieron Daly gets ready for his debut in the big-time at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium

Lining up alongside sprints legend Marlon Devonish it was never about qualification for the semi-final, but soaking up the atmosphere and making the most of the biggest moment in his track career to date.

“Kieron didn’t perform up to recent standards on the night,” said coach John Powell, “but quite honestly that didn’t matter.  He’s had a great season and being here is just reward for some hard graft that has produced significant improvement this summer.”

It wasn’t a night to remember for Trackspeed1, as Alex Ojo crashed out in his heat, while David Bolarinwa struggled to get himself back up to scratch after the euphoria of just seven days previously when he struck gold in the European Junior 200m Final, in Estonia.

David qualified for the semi-finals in third place clocking 10.61s behind heat winner Mark Lewis-Francis (10.30s) and European and Commonwealth hurdles champion, Andy Turner (10.60s), after a horrendous start.

The second day of the championships will see the semi-finals and final of a hotly-contested 100m, and then day 3 will stage one of the most exciting 200m contests for years.  Trackspeed1's James Ellington starts as a hot favourite to secure a seat on the plane to the World Championships in Korea next month - he will be looking for a minimum of a top two finish on Sunday evening.

Lawrence Wooldridge also goes in the 200m and will be looking to replicate some of the form he has shown in training this year, but who has yet to consistently transfer into competitive performances.