GENEVA D-DAY, BRUMMY BECKONS, & EDMOND GETS THE CALL !

Trackspeed1's sensational start to the summer season this year, underpinned by sponsorship support from Surface Technology International, switches into overdrive this weekend, but already they've had some great news to add to their already impressive 2012 track record.

Edmond Amaning - lifetime bests at every outing over
200m this year, now about to get an taste of national
team relay sprinting!

Eighteen-year-old Edmond Amaning was today invited into one of the three Great Britain junior relay teams competing at the Bedford International Games next Sunday June10.  It signals recognition at last of a talent coach John Powell has extolled since first he joined the group in 2010, but whose progress was stalled with repeated hamstring strains last year.

In 2012 he has set personal best times on virtually every outing over 200 metres, and he will hope that this first taste of a national team is anything but his last.  With a best 200m of 21.36s now, he is within touching distance of the World Junior qualifying mark of 21.1s.

Meanwhile, John Powell flew out today to Geneva with physiotherapist Tim Allardyce to support James Ellington's next assault on Olympic qualifying marks in both 100 and 200 metres.  It marks the continuation of a frantic four days for Ellington, who ran a scintillating third leg for Great Britain seniors in the 4x100m relay in the Diamond League meeting, in Rome, last night.

Physio' Tim Allardyce flew out with Trackspeed1 coach John Powell to
Geneva today in support of James Ellington in the 'Atletica Geneve'
International meeting tomorrow (Saturday).

Tomorrow, Ellington runs in Geneva on a track known to be fast and devoid of any significant winds - he set a personal best 100m there 2 years ago, but tore a hamstring in the process.  This year he will be hoping for the performance without the drama! Conditions promise to be near perfect, so it could be a real opportunity.

It is then a sprint to the airport to fly back to a significantly colder UK, and the England Championships in Birmingham on Sunday.  There he will run again over 200 metres - the distance he represented Great Britain at in the World Championships last year.

In the same meeting in the Midlands, Edmond Amaning will join James in the 200m, along with training partners Kieron Daly and Jason Hussain.  Ed Harrison competes in heat and semi-final on Saturday of the 400m hurdles, defending the title he won last year.  The final is on Sunday.  Former international Andrew Matthews goes in the 100m on Saturday.

Junior David Bolarinwa, 18, has flown out with British seniors to Regensberg, Germany, for his first taste of senior competition at international level, as he has joined the British relay squad there, and will also run in an individual 200 metres at that meeting.

"It has been an absolutely cracking start to 2012," said John Powell, "and there is no reason why we shouldn't continue that trend this weekend.  Kieron was the last guy to open up, and he pb'd straight away in the 100m last week.  The job satisfaction for me doesn't get too much better than this!"