RECOVERY TIME OFFERS SOME TOP CLASS INPUT

With a fair few weeks' Autumn grind behind them already, a scheduled recovery week for Trackspeed1-UK athletes offered the perfect opportunity for some expert assessment on progress so far.

Almost the whole squad attended two classroom sessions at Crystal Palace this last week hosted by sports scientist Mark Stanton on Tuesday, and England Athletics National Coach Mentor for Strength and Conditioning, Rob' Thickpenny, on Thursday.

Mark Stanton talks nutrition on Tuesday

Rob' Thickpenny talks S & C on Thursday

Mark took the group through some basic calculations reading each athlete's diet, and made a lot of recommendations on how they could improve their nutrition plans, improving their lifestyle, and hence potential performance on the track.

Rob' combined with Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell, to host a discussion on mainly strength and conditioning issues, which proved quite thought provoking for some, and triggered some very enthusiastic discussion.

"I doubt many groups do this sort of thing," said John, "but I thought it would be an excellent learning opportunity for the majority, and I think it turned out to be just that.

"As I said to the group at the beginning of the Tuesday session, I have purposely scheduled this recovery week for bodies to rest up a bit and recover from a pretty hefty workload this last few weeks.  It is definitely a case of 'less is more'.

"Rather than have everyone lazing around at home though, these two sessions really opened a few eyes to some key issues, and I am indebted to Mark and Rob' for facilitating the discussions.  You can train as hard as you like, but if you don't entertain a decent lifestyle then a lot of the effort is wasted.

"From experience, if people aren't encompassing the whole fitness agenda - nutrition, S & C, and general lifestyle issues, we hit the hamstring season and injuries or niggles start creeping in, and I've made it quite clear that isn't an option this winter!"

FLYING START FOR NEW SQUAD!

Trackspeed1-UK have got off to a flying start to winter training this year - both in terms of some seriously testing training workouts, and taking advantage of the various supplementary services their set-up has to offer.

With their first track session completed this week after a month of basic conditioning, Head Coach John Powell was enthused with the new-look group he has inherited for the new athletic year.

"There is a totally different look and feel to the squad this year compared with last," he said.  "Whilst not everyone may be aspiring to go to Rio in 2016, if the current levels of motivation along with a superb work ethic continue, we are going to have some serious personal bests set next season.

"Athletics isn't the most popular sport in the world at the moment, and it is such a pity that the cameras don't focus on the effort and grind being produced by these guys - at their own expense, and with no artificial aids at their disposal!"

Mark Stanton takes some of the Trackspeed1-UK squad through
basic conditioning work in the early stages of their
winter training programme

Mark Stanton, a highly qualified and very experienced coach in the fitness industry who is also qualified in massage and aspects of nutrition and strength and conditioning, has already dipped in to add a different perspective on a couple of sessions, while coach John Powell continues to work with England Athletics National Coach Mentor for Strength and Conditioning, Rob' Thickpenny.

The group also recently enjoyed a flying visit from former therapist Greg' Funnell who was trackside for a workout at Crystal Palace.

Thaerapist Greg' Funnell visited Crystal Palace recently to give some expert
advice on body maintenance to Trackspeed1-UK athletes

"Greg' has been terrific over the years," said John, "and the athletes have a huge amount of faith in him which makes a great difference.  The only problem is that he is based in Polegate, Sussex, so we don't see a great deal of him."

Grace Newton takes up her role as a regular source of therapy for the group this week trackside for one session a week, described by John as an "invaluable" asset.

"Things are going really well to date," added John, "and I'm really enjoying coaching these guys."

John Powell enters his 40th year of coaching this winter!

NEW DAWN - NEW SQUAD

After varying periods of rest and recovery from the past year's efforts, a new dawn breaks for Trackspeed1-UK as a number of new faces line up for squad training this autumn.

It's another strong group to follow in the footsteps of the 2014/15 squad, virtually all of whom set personal best performances during the summer months.  And with only 3 departures post-season, a much yearned-for element of consistency finally exists as well.

One of the most disappointing departures is that of Niclas Baker, whose progress over 400m after lengthy winter injury issues, lined him up as a real prospect, but his commitment to Leeds University necessarily drew him away from London for the next academic year.

Niclas Baker - will be a sorely missed member of the group

The flip side of that coin though will be the addition of new faces who will line up much potential for 2016 - another Olympic Year - and a season that sees added sources of inspiration and motivation to succeed.

"It's a real mixed bunch this year," said Head Coach, John Powell.  "Obviously it's disappointing to see people go, especially as virtually none over many years have ever improved after seeking pastures new.  It'll never happen, but there needs to be far better regulation of athletes' affiliation with coaches.

"A classic example is a sprinter who swore allegiance to the group for 2015/16, had me set up a work programme with a local university biomechanics lab' to supplement his core training, but then days later promptly departed to another coach.  Athletes have no respect these days and that represents a massive frustration for me, not to mention the other coaches who gleefully take them on.  I mean, if you're improving, why the bla-de-bla do you want to change!"

On a far more positive note, however, one of the brighter hopes for 2016 will be Dean Hylton, who was hugely frustrated to see a spectacular lifetime best 10.26 fail to make official ranking lists due to meeting registration and officials issues.

"Dean will simply have to prove it again," said John.  "He's a massive talent and will doubtless improve if he gets his teeth into the winter programme - something he's not all that used to up until now!"

Dean Hylton - potentially the most improved
British sprinter of 2015!

Hylton was not the only athlete who lost out on a personal best being recorded at the same meeting, but the squad will take some consolation in having effectively produced the most improved sprinter in the country for the second consecutive year!

Squad stalwart, Jason Hussain, who has trained with the group for over ten years now, missed out on the elusive sub-21-second 200 metres in 2015, and may opt to have a crack at 400m in 2016, although the temptation of having one more go at running sub-21 may prove to be too much!

"Jason has been worth a sub-21 200m for years," John added, "but circumstances simply haven't been kind to him - not least in 2008 when he was treated for Cancer, but even then he was back on the track training just 20 days after finishing a course of chemotherapy.  If only all athletes were that dedicated!"

Another potential sub-21 athlete could be 30-year-old Dwayne Dowding.  All sorts of issue during 2015 that prevented him from really fulfilling his potential are now in the past, and a full winter's work could see him join the upper echelons of sprinting in 2016.

The range of abilities is wider this year, with 10.26 filing down to high 11-point-high, plus two new female additions at under-17 level for development work.

Jason Hussain - enters his 11th year with Trackspeed1-UK

THAILAND HAILS NEW KIT SPONSORS: TRACKSPEED1-UK!

A unique deal between Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell and Nongtor-Tephatan United - a youth football outfit in N.E. Thailand - has seen the teenage squad smartly kitted out by Adidas UK.

The team, drawn from a group of villages just outside the city of Roi Et, had only old kit to play in for the current season, but their plight quickly came to the ears of John's wife, Chanphen, whose home town was Roi Et.

A life-long supporter of young people in sport, John contacted Adidas UK who were happy to provide cost-price kit, which John purchased and duly had printed up.  Squad numbers, the team name on the back, and the Trackspeed1-UK logo on the front as the team's now principle sponsors, made for a smart outfit.

Nongtor-Tephatan United with a rather obvious kit sponsor in the back row!

"It was a bit of an unexpected expense just before my family left for a trip to Thailand ourselves," said John, "but the area that these guys represent is so poor, villagers have very little money and certainly couldn't dream of buying football kit like this.

"Obviously with half the family based there, I've been a few times, and the people are so humble, and live in pretty modest conditions, it's brilliant that sport can still play a part in the lives of their young."

The squad were presented with their kit prior to a Thai Cup fixture yesterday (Saturday 22nd) versus the holders Maunglat Tream - a match that they narrowly lost 1-2.  The photo-call before kickoff certainly showed just how excited the team were to don their new kit for the first time.  They played again in the league today and drew 1-1.

Team Manager Suwit Chaiyasri said: "We can't thank John and the Trackspeed1-UK brand enough for this kit.  The team have been thrilled at the prospect of having a European sponsor - it's unheard of out here, and they look really smart and professional, which makes a big difference."

The cup match saw the visitors score first in the first half, with an early second half penalty that levelled things wiped out by the winner a few moments later.  The league clash saw a goal in both halves with the Trackspeed1-UK team levelling with another penalty.

A close-up of the team kit...

TRACKSPEED1-UK HAIL UNSUNG HERO REBECCA!

Rebecca Webber has a full time, very demanding, job with the National Health Service that leaves her yearning to put her feet up in the evenings, but that doesn’t stop her journeying down to Crystal Palace to provide Trackspeed1-UK athletes with much needed trackside physio’.

The 27-year-old therapist spent five weeks in 2014 providing physiotherapy support to the squad that travelled out to the USA for pre-season training, and has continued to be a key member of the team since, with many quoting her as a real ‘unsung hero’ alongside weekday training sessions.

 

Rebecca Webber - a huge asset to Trackspeed1-UK athletes for the past two seasons

Although unable due to professional commitments to travel to the States this year, she has diligently continued to provide unpaid advice and, in many cases, hands-on maintenance / therapy to Trackspeed1-UK athletes.

“Rebecca has been amazing for so many of the group,” said Head Coach, John Powell.  “You can often see how tired she is after a day’s work, but she always arrives with a smile, and definitely knows her stuff.  

“Whether it’s maintenance, treatment of an existing problem, or occasionally first aid at training, she is an amazing asset to all of us.  In my experience, athletes are pretty fussy when it comes to who they consult about physiological issues, but Rebecca is now usually their first port of call.”

A bitterly cold winter saw a number of issues arise, not least hamstring strains among the squad, and Rebecca played no small role in progressing athlete rehabilitation. 

“Physio’ fees are frequently extortionate these days.  Although Trackspeed1-UK get significant discounts from two excellent London clinics,” John continued, “but getting regular treatment is pretty unaffordable for most unfunded athletes, and so without sponsorship of any kind, Rebecca is worth her weight in gold to us.”

Squad stalwart, Jason Hussain, who has been a Trackspeed1-UK athlete for ten years agreed: “Rebecca is excellent.  She knows her stuff, is always keen to help, and she gets results. She can’t change your world during one training session, but she can send you home feeling alot more positive than you would otherwise have done.”

Sprinter Nathan Gilbert endorsed his coach’s comments: “I’ve not had the easiest time of it this year,” he said, “but Rebecca has been a terrific source of advice and support at training.  Knowing she is trackside if anything goes wrong is a luxury most athletes don’t have these days.”

Rebecca said: “It’s a real pleasure to be able to help.  I can’t do too much trackside, but if my contribution makes life just a little easier for athletes trying to achieve their goals, then that’s all the job satisfaction I need!”

The sad news for Trackspeed1-UK now though is that Rebecca is moving away from London to Winchester and won't be able to visit Crystal Palace as often, but Grace Newton, a work colleague, will be taking over on a regular basis and is already a hit with all the athletes.

Grace will be at Crystal Palace alongside Rebecca this month, and will take over in ernest in October when the group report back for winter training as Olympic year beckons in 2016.

Rebecca introduces new squad physio' Grace Newton to some of the squad,
and Fred Afrifa is the first to give her the thumbs-up!

DEAN AND JASON ROCKET UP THE RANKINGS!

Trackspeed1-UK have done it again!  Probably the most improved sprinter in Great Britain this year.  Dean Hylton started the season with a personal best of 10.76s for the 100m - well he smashed that to smithereens on Wednesday, clocking 10.26s, rocketing to eighth in the country!

Dean Hylton rightly hugs the clock after celebrating a huge PB,
at Battersea Park on Wednesday 

Racing in the first meeting in the Belgrave Harriers speed grand prix series, at Battersea Park, the conditions were perfect, and triggered other lifetime best performances, not least that of Jason Husain, whose existing best ever mark of 10.65s, he clobbered with a 10.40s blast!

Negligible following winds, a warm evening, and a low pressure meeting clearly provided the stage on which everyone was going to take advantage.  Hylton was being hunted down at the line by Hussain who finished like a train, pulling training partner Laurence Oboh behind to a third-placed 10.69s - the fastest he has run in several years.

Jason Hussain stopped the clock in the second round at 10.48
(later rounded up to 10.49), but his 10.40 in round one was even faster,
and takes him to 17th in the UK rankings!

It is the second successive year that Trackspeed1-UK have produced the most improved sprinter in the country - last year it was Kieran Daly, but Hylton's shift was even more dramatic than Daly's 10.58-10.18 shift, all the more impressive given that the Blackheath & Bromley man had limped away from the Surrey Championships with a hamstring problem only 5 weeks earlier.

The second round an hour later didn't see Hylton in action again, but Jason was more than tempted to prove his earlier sensational sprint was no fluke - which he did with an easy win over the rest in 10.49s.

Other Trackspeed1-UK athletes showed consistency with Chris' Pope at last shaking off prolonged injury issues this year with a fine 10.81s run, while Daryl Thomas clocked 11.08 in the second round - his fastest of 2015.

In the 200m Fred Afrifa wanted to put behind him a disappointing Italian Junior trials where he failed to crack the 22-second barrier 10 days earlier to contend for a European Junior Championships place, and the England trials last weekend where travel fatigue saw him exit at the semi-final stage of the 400m.

At last!  Fred Afrifa is all smiles after he cracked the
22-second barrier in style at Battersea.

Battersea set the scene for his big moment though, as he tore round the bend, prompting watching coach John Powell to comment that this was going to be a PB way before he crossed the line. The 18-year-old Crawley athlete duly delivered with a fine 21.78s performance that may yet see Italian selectors look upon him favourably.

Coming just nine days before the British Senior Championships and World Championship Trials, these performances were the perfect warmup for the season's peak.

The official photo-finish caption of that 100m race at Battersea,
with Hylton, Hussain, Oboh and Pope all recording outstanding times

ANOTHER LIFETIME BEST ANNIHILATED!

Lifetime best performances have been shattered left, right and centre this year for several Trackspeed1-UK athletes but, on Saturday, Crawley AC's Niclas Baker took it to a whole new level.

It was late in May that new quarter mile discovery Fred Afrifa provide a spectacular breakthrough in winning the Surrey County title with a scintillating 48.61s run, cracking the sub-50 barrier for the first time.  Well on Saturday (June 20th), Nic joined that club and cracked that barrier alright!

Competing in the Southern League for his new club, Crawley AC, he recorded 49.3s for the individual event, taking a full second off his previous fastest ever time of 50.24s, but that was just a taster of what was to come!

Niclas Baker - decimated his previous lifetime best time
over the 400m, at Crawley, last Saturday.

In the 4 x 400m relay he took over in second place some 20 metres down on the lead.  That gap was soon shortened, and at the line it was Nic who breasted the tape first.  Most spectacularly though, he had recorded an official split time of 47.6s for his leg -almost three seconds faster than he had ever covered the distance before that match!

"It was only going to be a matter of time until Nic bade farewell to 50-second laps," said coach John Powell, "but I don't think anyone thought he would put in a shift like that quite so soon.

"Nic has had his fair share of injuries this year, and that is why he hasn't returned to hurdling, but I think he has unearthed another individual event in the 400m that he may have to consider prioritising in the future - or maybe add hurdles to it!"

Fred Afrifa had been in action the same day at the England under-20 championships, in Bedford, and reached the semi-finals, but was under-par due to a nightmare return journey from Italy the week before.  It had taken a lot out of the tank and it was clear in the heats that he was not on tip-top form.

The world of athletics - and several of Trackspeed1-UK - now turn their attentions to Birmingham in ten days' time where the British Championships / World Championship Trials take place on July 3,4,5.  After that there will be the final phase of the domestic season featuring some significant meetings including the Loughborough European Permit meet.

MISSION 20-POINT - SO CLOSE!

Another lifetime best - the third this year already - took Trackspeed1-UK sprinter Jason Hussain to within a whisker of his ultimate objective for the 200 metres, at the Bedford International Games today (Sunday 31st May).

On a cold and blustery day in the Midlands, the 28-year-old Crawley AC athlete stormed home in 21.12 seconds - a time tantalisingly close to his dream of cracking the so far elusive 21-second barrier.

Jason Hussain (orange top, lane 6) dips for the line at Bedford, to
record the fastest 200 metres of his life.

There was clearly more to come as again he failed to capitalise on his start, and he tightened significantly over the final 40 metres.  He has, however, progressed impressively well already this season, and with the right conditions, the talk at Bedford was that it is literally only a matter of time before he produces that magical 20-point performance.

"It's been ten years," said coach John Powell, "and at long last he has adopted a lifestyle that has begun to unlock the talent we all knew he had.  He's lost a bit of weight, strung a decent winter together, and now is reaping the benefits, which are richly deserved."

On the same day, newly crowned Surrey Junior 400m champion, Fred Afrifa, couldn't quite emulate the form he showed at Kingston seven days earlier, but still ran a solid 49.58 seconds - his second fastest ever.

It's a critical few weeks for the 18-year-old from Croydon now though.  Next week he runs in the British League for his Crawley club, aiming to crack his 200 metres best which currently stands at 22.09, and then the following week he flies to Rieti, Italy, to take part in the domestic junior championships and European Junior Championship trials.

Fred Afrifa sets off on his 400m at Bedford

Fred's Italian nationality offers him the opportunity of competing at a major championship, whereas at present it would be a tall order to make the British team, but he will first have to decide whether to run 200m or 400m, making this coming league race a fairly critical event.

"Fred could possibly make the team as an individual if he shaves a bit off his 200m time," said John Powell, "but he is in a very strong position to claim a 4x400m relay squad place too.  If he runs the 200 and fails to qualify he may blow his chances of going to the championships at all, although I don't see that happening."

Also in action in Bedford was Trackspeed1-UK's Nathan Gilbert, who struggled in the first round of the 100m, clocking a disappointing 10.84s, but the second round saw some improvement with a 10.77s run.   It spelled consistency for the 20-year-old though, who has been ravaged by injury of late, and both athlete and coach are convinced there is far better to come as the season progresses.

FRED SENSATIONAL AS MEDALS AND PB's RAIN IN!

As County Championship medals rained in on Trackspeed1-UK athletes at the weekend, Fred Afrifa established himself as the new sensation to emerge from a squad internationally renown for converting raw talent into star quality.

The 18-year-old from Croydon stunned the crowd at the Surrey County Championships, at Kings Meadow, as he flew home in the under-20 400 metres final to a spectacular 48.61 seconds.  Not only was this the seventh fastest in the UK by any junior this year, it sliced just short of two seconds off his previous lifetime best for an event he has raced just four times in his life!

"I've been telling him for two years he is a quarter miler," said an absolutely jubilant coach, John Powell, "but I can't say I saw a time that fast coming just yet.  It was a perfectly executed race with tactics absolutely spot on!"

Fred Afrifa caused a sensation at the Surrey County
Championships clocking an incredible 48.61s to take
the under-20 title in only his fourth race ever over
the one-lap sprint.  He also took second in the 200m

Afrifa was pushed up the home straight all the way, but ended just over a tenth of a second ahead of second place to take the gold.  He joined an increasing number of his training group in various medals tables around the home counties, and added another himself with silver in the 200m 24 hours after his one-lap victory.

The Sussex sprints finals are notoriously poorly populated, but that did not deter in-form Jason Hussain to claim his umpteenth gold medals over both 100m and 200m.  On Saturday he clocked a fastest ever 21.2s 200m, albeit very slightly wind-aided with a +2.4m/s breeze behind him.

Twenty-four hours later he made it a double with a 10.9s 100m run to gold, but neither performance came without some controversy.  Both races were hand timed, a disappointing feature of the Championships at Crawley's K2 Centre, while the win in the 100m saw him obliterate the field, but he was given barely a half second margin ahead of second when video footage showed him clearly almost a second in front.

"It was very, very frustrating,"said Jason, "I had the race of my life, and I know perfectly well it was faster than 10.9.  I have no idea how they came up with that time, but there's nothing you can do now, so we move on."

Ishmael Smith-John, described by John Powell as one of his hardest working athletes over the past year, grabbed his first ever senior County medal in Ashford by taking second in the Kent 200m final.  This was despite a howling headwind that slowed everyone to significantly inferior times.  A day earlier, however, he had ripped his 100m lifetime best apart to clock 11.17s, missing out on a medal by just half of one tenth of a second!

Ishmael Smith-John took silver in the Kent 200m
final, with a lifetime's fastest 100m 24 hours earlier

"I was delighted Ishmael got a medal, and his PB in the 100m was richly deserved," said John Powell.  "He may not be among the superstars - yet - but this was just reward for some seriously hard graft throughout the winter, and I have absolutely no doubt that there is a lot more to come."

Elsewhere, Tope Nuga took silver in the Middlessex Women's 100m final, clocking 11.84, while there was an unfortunate twist of fate at the close of the Surrey event for Trackspeed1-UK's fast-improving sprinter Dean Hylton.

Cruising through the heats of the senior men's 100m, he made a poor decision to run the final despite an uncomfortable hamstring, and paid a dear penalty with a hamstring pull at the line, albeit grabbing silver in a blanket finish.  He clocked 10.94 with second to sixth covered by just  four hundredths of a second.

Training partner Oweka Wanogho took fifth in the same final, having run his fastest 200m in three years the day before clocking 21.98 to take silver.

Dean Hylton (blue/black vest) limps to second in the Surrey 100m final
with training partner Oweka Wanogho fifth (far side to left of white vest)

"Dean should not have run the final," said John Powell, "and now he will be lucky to make the British Trials in July.  It's frustrating, especially with a huge talent like him who we had down to run pretty quickly this year despite a lack of work during the winter."

Overall it was a spectacular weekend for Trackspeed1-UK athletes.  Eight medals from ten competing athletes was a pretty impressive haul, especially with most of them coming with personal best performances.

Nathan Gilbert was one of the unlucky ones, finishing fourth in the middlesex 100m final, but he clocked a fastest ever 100m in 10.70s, contesting the first race of his 2015 summer season proper after a catalogue of injury issues had seriously curtailed his winter preparations.

Medals and PB's galore during Counties weekend for Trackspeed1-UK
Top: Jason Hussain - Sussex 100m, 200m gold
Middle: Fred Afrifa - Surrey 400m gold and 200m silver
Bottom: Dean Hylton - Surrey 100m silver

JASON BRAVES THE COLD!

It was squad stalwart Jason Hussain who again grabbed the headlines at the annual Loughborough University International meeting on Sunday (17/5), as his performance topped those of the six Trackspeed1-UK athletes selected to take part.

The 28-year-old got off to a disastrous start in his 200 metre race, but recovered to trounce the rest of the field, finishing in a time of 21.32 seconds to win outright.

Stumbling out of the blocks on a bitterly cold day, with the temperature making the going far from ideal for sprints events, his bend could have been, by his own admission as well as that of his coach, "a lot better", but his surge onto the home straight, and strength in holding on over the final metres, still took him to one of the fastest times of his life.

"I know I can run under 21 seconds this year," he said afterwards, "but it was so cold, and my bend wasn't good at all this time round.

Jason Hussain - continued his outstanding
early-season form in Loughborough
despite freezing conditions

"It's frustrating, because he produced a couple of block starts during warm-up that were about the best I've ever seen from him," said coach John Powell.

It wasn't the best day at the office for the squad on this occasion, although Dean Hylton, suffering from missing months of training time during the winter, still produced the second fastest 200m of his life, finishing 6th behind training partner Hussain in the same race.

"I'm getting faster every time I race," said Dean - "trust me - I'll be putting down some times this year despite all the training I've missed, and next year - you see!"

Emmanuel Stephens had a miserable day with a poor 10.80s performance over 100m, later being forced to drop out of the England relay team due to a recurring knee problem.

The group are hoping for a sack load of medals during the coming weekend when the various county championships take place all over the country.  The main focus will be on the Surrey event, at Kings Meadow, Kingston, although some of the squad will be contesting titles in Sussex, Essex and Middlesex.

SIX OF THE BEST IN LOUGHBOROUGH

Trackspeed1-UK's extraordinary number of lifetime bests so early in the year have seen no fewer than six of the squad accepted to run in the annual Loughborough International meeting tomorrow (Sunday 18th May).

It's quite a few years since the group had so many athletes selected to take part in the opening showcase meet of the UK domestic season, reflective of the depth of talent the group have developed over the past winter months.

"We started with 29 athletes after something of an exodus over the previous 2 years," said coach John Powell, "but I knew full well we wouldn't have close to that number by the end of the winter, and sure enough we are down to about half that now, most of whom have shown well in the early weeks."

Leading the squad's charge up north will be Emmanuel Stephens, whose slightly wind-aided 10.42s 100 metre effort in the United States last month earned him a call-up to the England senior team's 4x100m relay squad for the meet.  He also contests the guest's A-race over 100m.

The meeting will open though with the women's guest A race, where Trackspeed1-UK's Tope Nuga, already in the form of her life, will look to improve her 11.67 100m windy mark also set in the States.

The personal bests set on Wednesday night also saw a late opportunity come Dean Hylton's way with a lane in the men's 100m, while the 200m charge is, not surprisingly, led by squad stalwart, Jason Hussain, who celebrates 10 years under John Powell's tutelage this year.

Jason Hussain (28) runs in the 200m
chasing another early season personal best.

Jason's 21.21s run in Gainesville, Florida, was the 28-year-old's fastest ever over the half-lap sprint, and all the signs this year are that he is capable of significantly faster.  Loughborough will be the first opportunity, especially with a lane 6 B-race draw on the day.

Also going in the 200m will be Oweka Wanogho, who is running faster now than he has in three years, while former Loughborough student Matthew Threadgold will contest the longer 400m event.

"We never aim to peak before the June/July championships," explained John Powell, "but I don't think I've got it totally wrong this year so, going by early performances, and with at least another two very talented athletes to fully recover from injury niggles, this could be a pretty good year if we play our cards right!"

IT JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER!

It's official - Trackspeed1 UK athletes are on fire this year, with another four lifetime best marks set tonight (Wednesday May 13th), and a new England Senior International christened just for good measure!

On a night that was supposed to feature athletes competing in preparatory low-key open meetings around London, three put down fastest ever marks over 100, 200 or 400 metres, just 24 hours after Emmanuel Stephens had celebrated his first senior international call-up.

Stephens was not in action, but is lined up not only to run the 100m in the Loughborough International meeting on Sunday, but also will represent England in the 4x100m relay in the same meeting.

His preparations for that occasion will be bouyed now as he sees several of his training partners improving their best marks at what is still a very early stage of the summer outdoor season.

Arguably the best of the bunch was from Dean Hylton, who clocked a massive personal best 21.76s 200m at an open meeting in Newham, with a zero wind.  That lopped over half a second off his previous best.  The 100m also saw improvement from an existing best of 10.76 to 10.70 (wind: +2.0) and 10.74 (wind +1.2) in the heat and final respectively.

Dean Hylton posted two lifetime bests at Newham

At the same meeting Oweka Wanogho didn't quite beat his fastest ever 100m, but he did run faster than he has since 2012, clocking 10.85 (wind +2.0) and 10.82 (wind +1.2).

Meanwhile 19-year-old Ishmael Smith-John cracked his personal best over the 200 metres timing 22.41 (wind -0.2) - a performance praised by coach John Powell:

"Ish' has worked as hard as any of the squad this last few months, despite not being one of the highest profile athletes, and this is now the beginnings of a reward for that graft, and I'm delighted for him" he said.

John had spent the evening at Battersea Park witnessing the opening Rosenheim League fixture, and saw one of his squad's PB's first hand.  Despite all sorts of injury issues over recent months, Nic Baker again improved his 400m time, clocking 50.24s, and decided to celebrate 30 minutes later by winning a 200m race in 22.47s (wind -1.1).

"It was a good night," said John Powell, who has still not collated all the results around the Capital from his athletes, "it's very early in the season, but that is a positive thing as we have a lot of work yet to do in order to really produce peak performances."

In action at the Loughborough International on Sunday will be Jason Hussain (200m), Tope Nuga (100m), Emmanuel Stephens (100m and relay), Matthew Threadgold (400m) and Dean Hylton (100m).

SIX LIFETIME MARKS ALREADY!

Trackspeed1-UK athletes rightly plan their peak performances for the vital championships later in the summer so, the fact that already six lifetime bests have been posted in barely two meetings, augurs incredibly well for the rest of the 2015 season.

The early domestic fixtures continued yesterday (Saturday 9th May) with British League meetings dotted across the country, and it was at sunny Crawley that two more best ever times were posted.

Eighteen-year-old Fred Afrifa has had something of a torrid time over the last couple of seasons with injury wrecking plans, but his 200m on home soil for his Crawley AC team was his fastest yet, just a fraction over the 22-second mark with 22.08.

That was whilst being hampered by a -1.7m/s headwind though, and so if that had been reversed, he would easily have cracked the 22-second barrier for the first time.  It comes only a short while after his super debut over the longer 400m distance where he posted 50.2 - surely an indication of a shift in event in the future with a sub-50 run only a matter of time.

Jason Hussain takes over in the4x400m relay from
clubmate and training partner Fred Afrifa at Crawley.
Both posted lifetime best marks in the individual events.

Also in action in Crawley was one of the squad's most impressive performers already this year, Jason Hussain.  His fastest ever 200m in the USA last month was impressive, but this time he showed he is in the form of his life over 100m as well.  He clocked 10.65s in the A race running into a -1.7m/s wind - again an indication that he can run well down into the 10.5's without the breeze in his face!

In the 200m, Hussain was disappointed with his 21.57s into a 1.3m/s headwind, but as coach John Powell pointed out afterwards, a year ago, he would have taken that as a positive performance:

"Jason has opened up incredibly well this year," he said.  "The fact that he is this year disappointed with runs that less than 12 months ago he would have been reasonably satisfied with is an indication of how far he has progressed in the last year.  He is with out doubt good for a sub-21 second 200 metres this season - we just need decent conditions without a headwind!

Essex Ladies sprinter Tope Nuga ran faster than ever before in the USA last month too, albeit with a little wind assistance that time (11.67s over 100m) but could not reproduce that sort of form in Crawley, albeit faring well in the UK Womens League A race, clocking 12.08 into another headwind.

Tope Nuga ran well again in Crawley after
her fastest ever 100m in the USA last month

In another British League clash, Oweka Wanogho clocked his fastest time since 2012 over 100m of 10.87s, but was kicking himself after not dipping at the line, losing the race overall by one hundredth of a second!

"Oweka has much to learn about his event, but the fact that he has regained his form of 3 years ago already this year shows to me that there is lots more to come," commented John  Powell.

The next landmark event for Trackspeed1-UK athletes is Sunday May 17th when some will be invited to take part in the annual Loughborough international meeting in the East Midlands.  Already invitations have been extended to Jason Hussain (200m), Tope Nuga (100m), Emmanuel Stephens (100m) and Matthew Threadgold (400m).

HUSSAIN IN THE FORM OF HIS **LIFE**

It's been ten long years in Trackspeed1 UK for 28-year-old Jason Husain, and he's improved well in that time, but nothing will have given him more pleasure than his lifetime best 200 metres at Gainesville, on Friday, where he clocked 21.21 seconds - the fastest time of his life!

Jason Hussain - the longest serving member of Trackspeed1 UK ever,
cracked his lifetime best 200m Stateside on Friday (24th)

The Tom Jones Memorial track and field meet in Central Florida provided the stage for Jason to produce the most impressive sprint of his life, and yet it came from lane nine - a hugely wide bend which, physiologically could be said to pose an advantage, but with nobody ahead to focus on, a significant psychological impediment!

"Jason has shown every sign of being in seriously good shape this year," said Trackspeed1 UK head coach John Powell.   "He didn't execute the race particularly well, so there is definitely more there, and if he doesn't run sub-21 seconds this year, I will be very surprised indeed!"

It was the highlight of another good day for Trackspeed1 UK, who  produced a second personal best performance through Niclas Baker, whose 50.74s 400m cracked his previous best by nearly a second - all the more impressive after an injury-torn winter prevented him from training for long periods.

Elsewhere Dean Hylton produced the fastest opening 100 metres of his life for any one season, indicating greater things to come,  and Matthew Threadgold gritted his teeth in the 400m as a huge blister formed on his foot half way round, but he held on too clock 49.73s, just inside his performance at Clermont 6 days earlier.

Possibly the most impressive of the short sprints was again Emmanuel Stephens.  He would have been expecting a better performance than his 10.42s at Clermont a week earlier, but his 10.64s wind-legal time was a walk in the park as the opposition melted behind him in what was effectively a solo effort.

Emmanuel Stephens decimates the field in Gainesville
to cruise to a 100m victory

Nathan Gilbert and Chris Pope both also competed in the 100 metres, but were clearly not ready to return from injury as both broke down in their relevant races, but in the words of John Powell, are "95% ready to get back into things within the next 2 weeks".

"It sounds like a cop-out," said John, "but the heat has to be experienced to be believed, and it had a massive impact on athlete performances.  I am completely confident that we have a group now ho are posed to deliver some very impressive stuff this summer.

Trackspeed1 UK return to the UK on Tuesday, and will continue their preparations for the summer season at their London base at Crystal Palace.

PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS

Trackspeed1 UK's training programme went full steam ahead on Saturday into their first test competition of 2015, and the 6 participating sprinters passed with flying colours.

Leading the charge was a superb performance in the 100 metres by Emmanuel Stephens, who was making a track comeback after an absence of 2 long years due to injury.  His 10.42s sprint, aided by a slightly illegal wind of +2.9, was marred only by his subsequent false start in the final.

As the gun went, Stephens flew out of the blocks in the first round and, by 50 metres, had gapped the rest by a clear three metres, but was caught on the line to eventually secure second in the race just one hundredth of a second behind the winner.

In the Women's 100m, Tope Nuga ran the fastest time of her life, albeit again wind-aided (+3.8), timing 11.67s in the final, having qualified with a 11.85s run, aided by a slight +2.3m/s breeze.

It was overall a really encouraging opener for the Crystal Palace-based squad, who have not been without their injury issues through the winter.

Jason Hussain, celebrating his tenth year in the group, opened with one of his fastest April efforts with a 21.66s run in the 200m, after a fine 10.77 in the 100m.  As the sun beat down, the wait for his 200m amid significant heat made his 200m performance all the more impressive.

"I simply had nothing left in the last 50 metres," he said, "I was worn out waiting over 40 minutes for my race to go off.  I'm in pretty good shape at the moment and I know I'll go a lot faster this year."

Coach John Powell was full of praise for the two therapists who have been working tirelessly with his athletes since arriving in Florida:

"John Allen is known as one of the best physio's in the business," he said, "he's been to Olympic Games and World class meetings all over the world, working with British teams, over several decades.  It's a massive compliment to have him with our group out here.

"Amara Tapson is our masseuse and she has really impressed both the athletes and myself with her work ethic and effect.  Together these two have bolted together a group who came out with some significant issues.  Now we have all but two athletes ready to roll in the next week or so."

The squad next compete this Friday at the Tom Jone Memorial Meeting, in Gainesville.

ATHLETES FACE THEIR FIRST TEST

Trackspeed1 UK haven't had the  best build-up to the summer season, but many of their number are looking pretty impressive just short of the first 2015 outdoor meet in the USA this Saturday - their first test of the year.

They open their account at their pre-season training venue, Clermont National Training Center, on Saturday.  Conditions are likely to be challenging with the Florida heat peaking mid-meet, but with a classy line-up from both Europe and the USA, the opportunity to perform will be ideal.

"It's very early in the day", said 'Trackspeed1 UK' Head Coach, John Powell, and I have emphasised to all our guys that this is very much part of their training programme only, but there again it will be a great indication as to where some athletes are at the moment.

"Not everyone is competing - some have rightly elected to wait until the following week when we travel to Gainesville for the annual Tom Jones Memorial meet, and there are likely to be a couple who won't open up until they get back to the UK.

"It's been a harsh winter, and residual injury issues have been rather stubborn in a couple of cases, and the last thing an athlete should be doing is looking to compete until he or she is fully fit."

The group return to London at the end of the month, and competition plans are already in place that indicate a very busy time in May for most athletes.

The opening British Athletics League fixtures are rapidly followed by the Loughborough International fixture.  Then there are meetings in Europe as an option to the County Championships, and the Bedford International Games round off a hectic start.

Meanwhile the training camp in the South East corner of the United States continues to progress well.  In addition to the climate and excellent facilities at the Clermont NTC, the group have the privilege of Dr John Allen as the group physio' - one of the most accomplished in his field in the UK, along with  masseuse Amara Tapson who, in the words of John Powell, has been "worth her  weight in gold" to the athletes between workout days.

Trackspeed1 UK masseuse, Amara Tapson, offers essential
massage therapy between sessions in Florida.

IT ALL STARTS STATESIDE!

A large contingent of Trackspeed1 UK athletes have begun pre-season training in the United States, and already coach John Powell can't wait for the season to begin.

"It's been a difficult winter in more ways than one," he explained, "and it's just great to be training in the warm, and leaving behind various challenges that have beset us this last few months.  We've suffered badly from injuries training in very cold conditions, and all the uncertainty around the future at Crystal Palace hasn't helped."

Early sessions at the group's National Training Center, Clermont, base in Florida have been very positive, although the squad still have a month there, which will also see them compete in two pre-season meetings at both Clermont and Gainesville.

Day one Stateside - Trackspeed1 UK athletes ease into their
pre-season training programme at Clermont.

"We have the majority of the squad out here this year," said John, "which makes for a really good quality preparation phase for summer.  Some are only with us for part of the trip, but it will still be hugely beneficial to the 13 making the trip."

Among the athletes training Stateside are British Junior International Emmanuel Stephens, South of England medalist Dwayne Dowding, British Trials finalist Tope Nuga, former Junior international Jason Hussain, not to mention Christopher Pope, Nathan Gilbert, Oweka Wanogho and Dean Hylton, all of whom hold the potential to turn heads in the sprinting fraternity this year.

Asked about the issues surrounding the future at Crystal Palace, where John has coached for the past 39 years, he was scathing of the way things appear to be going:

"The indoor track looks certain to go with no replacement," he explained, "and the outdoor track will have very little stadium facilities attached to it.  I really do despair.  I mean, how on earth do speed/power athletes train in a British winter outdoors?

"Anyone who knows London realises that Lee Valley or Sutton are not realistic alternatives for South/East London-based athletes.  It's absolute madness. "Legacy"?  What legacy?  The Mayor keeps talking about investing millions into making London a massive sports city.  Really?  Like.... REALLY??!!  

"Next year sees my coaching career reach the 40-year mark.  To be honest I was quite looking forward to making the big five-zero, but what chance of that now?  This will be a hammer blow to athletics if it goes ahead, yet whenever you try to engage with any politicians, doors suddenly slam shut in your face.  Hidden agendas here?  Go figure!"

John currently chairs the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership Board - an increasingly influential stakeholder group attempting to work with the powers that be to arrive at a satisfactory plan for a sustainable future at the Palace.  Only time will tell how effective his and that of his colleagues turns out to be!

NEW YEAR, NEW SQUAD!

Trackspeed1 UK takes on a different look in 2015 to this time last year, but enters the New Year with plenty of hope and ambition.

The squad depleted quite a bit during 2014, and coach John Powell has happily waved farewell to a few who decided to explore pastures new over the last few months, but that has been more than compensated for with several new faces.

"We've been in a bit of a transition over the last year or so," explained John. "As usual the vultures have circled, but also I have been quite picky on who has come in and who hasn't.

"I had to decline several requests to join last summer, because I really didn't think they would fit.  On the other hand, one or two departures have probably not been a great loss if the truth be known."

The squad, whose winter efforts this time round, have been under the shadow of talks regarding the future of their training venue at Crystal Palace, saw some of their number open up their indoor season last weekend (4/1/15) with some creditable results.

British Junior International Emmanuel Stephens clocked 6.89s over 60m, and Matthew Threadgold won the 400m clocking a healthy 50.05s - despite an official walking out in front of him on the final straight!

Matt' Threadgold opened up on Sunday
with one of the fastest 400m in the country.

"We operate at the coldest indoor track in the country," said John," so we don't have a great record indoors over the years, although I like to think that is more than compensated for during the summer!  Just think if the powers that be gave us a decent facility one day!

"I was pretty impressed overall with the opening day - we've focussed a little more on block work this year, and it was great to see all the 60m guys and girls get out of the blocks well at least once across the two rounds.  I'm really hopeful of a terrific outdoors this year."

Trackspeed1 UK athletes were competing at the Metaswitch Games, at lee Valley Athletics Centre.  Some of their number are next in action at the same venue when the South of England Championships are staged this next weekend 17-18th January.  It could be quite a challenging weekend with the event not beginning until middle day, and continuing well into the evening!