TS1 BANG ON TRACK FOR GLORY

Trackspeed1 take first and second in BOTH sprints in the Belgium classic

This weekend saw Trackspeed1 sprinters reaffirm their credentials as the likely best ever group to  adopt the tutelage of coach John Powell!  In fact they are bang on target for the squad's best EVER season!

Another personal best by Edmond Amaning, and progressive runs by David Bolarinwa, James Ellington, Ed Harrison and Jason Hussain, signalled yet again that 2012 is developing into an amazing summer of success!

Competing in the International Flanders Athletic Meeting, in Oordegem, Belgium, Amaning clocked another 200m lifetime  best performance, which meant he has run personal bests in every outing bar one this year!  He clocked 21.36s despite a poor start and less than ideal transition phase!

In the later races, James Ellington and David Bolarinwa made it a one-two for Great Britain in the same meeting, when they competed in the elite international races.  Ellington won both the 200m (20.73s) and the 100m (10.44s), but did not achieve the Olympic Games qualifying time he aims to achieve before the trials on June 22-24th.

Trackspeed1 pair David Bolarinwa and James Ellington after the
presentation for their second 'one-two' in Belgium

Bolarinwa was second in both events, clocking 10.48s and 20.88s, but only after a last minute drama that almost saw him fail to make the 200m start!

"David was sent away from the start of the 200m," explained coach John Powell, " and by the time he got round to me the far side of the track there was barely 5 minutes before the race was due off.  There had been a mix-up at registration and we got him back in the race, but he then had to get back to the start with the competitors already on the track.  Running 20.88 after that is little short of miraculous!"

Nearer home, in Basingstoke, Jason Hussain clocked one of the fastest times of his life over his specialist distance of 200m, timing 21.34s with a legal wind speed of 1.1m/s, while Ed Harrison improved his season's best 400m hurdles mark to 52.48 despite clattering into hurdle ten!

On day two of the first league weekend of the season, Andrew Matthews continued his improvement line back to form with 10.71 and 10.72 in two 100m races at Lee Valley, while Melvyn Anukam set his second persona best of the season in the 200m clocking 22.36s.

"We are enjoying an exceptional season," said John, ": but it will all mean very little if we do not get performances at the major championships.  All my guys know what they have to do - the hard work is largely behind them now, and it is up to them to produce the goods.  Exciting times!"

This coming week is a hectic one for all concerned.  James Ellington travels with Great Britain seniors to the Diamond League in Rome, and will then hook up with coach John Powell in Geneva for another European international there.  Then it's back to the UK for the 200m England Championship in Birmingham on Sunday.

David Bolarinwa will join training partners Jason Hussain, Ed Harrison, Andrew Matthews and Edmond Amaning on Saturday to contest the England Championships nearer home.

Coach John Powell reviews the day's work in Belgium on camera, with
double winner James Ellington