"TRACKSPEED1 COULD BE BEST EVER"!

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has had a fortnight to see his enlarged and diverse squad of athletes for 2011 back in training, and he is already wondering whether 2011 could just be the strongest year ever!

"I have taken on a few more athletes than I had intended, but the group is gelling really well.  The seniors mentor the younger athletes, and the general environment is really upbeat and positive.  People are willing to really work hard, which at this stage of the game is vital if you are to have half a chance in the New Year."

The squad include a number of new international standard athletes as well as developing youngsters, not forgetting the existing elite achievers like James Ellington, the 2010 UK number 3 over 100m, and the World's fastest under-18, David Bolarinwa, who only turned 17 last week.

"Of the new guys there are still one or two whose life in the group could be quite short if they don't wake up to the reality of hard work," John continued, "but we have some real workers too.

"Ellis Zorro works hard, and twins Kieron and Anton Daly are grafters, as is Joshua Atille, and Edmond Amaning is really impressive.  We are also delighted to see that Lawrence Wooldridge was able to adjust his working routine to join us after all - a 21.5 200m athlete is always going to be a positive addition to the existing clan of Hussain, Grant, Ellington, Bolarinwa and others, even if there are a few tenths to make up on paper!

Lucozade testing session sets the standard
Trackspeed1's new-found partnership with Lucozade saw Sports Scientist Joel Enoch carry out a number of base level tests at Crystal Palace today (Sunday 24th October), which will be repeated throughout the winter months into next season.

The tests were for reaction time out of blocks and speed / acceleration over 30m.  Then there were jump tests to assess power.  The results will be used to compare progress through the squad training programme this winter, and will highlight areas that might need additional attention.

"We are delighted to be working with Lucozade," said John Powell, "it is a unique opportunity for everyone, and has already produced some fascinating data.

James Ellington was unsurprisingly the strongest statistically, with Danny Doyley just behind, but the newest recruit to the squad, currently on a month's trial, was the youngster who caught Joel's eye.  Omardo Anson (17) was referred from John Powell's Met-Track scheme and, although very raw in terms of experience, produced one of the most impressive sets of statistics overall.

"He's a very very raw talent," said John, "and he did a totally unconventional start for the runs.  That alone will improve him further.  It will certainly be interesting to see how he goes."

DAVID NOW WORLD NUMBER TWO!

Trackspeed1 wonderkid David Bolarinwa, 16, added a new dimension to sprinting at the weekend as he hit number two in the world under-18 rankings for 100 metres.

In a scintillating weekend's work at the England under-20 championships in Bedford, he not only grabbed the national title from under the noses of athletes far senior to him, but clocked an incredible 10.47 seconds, which leaves him as third fastest ever Brit, and second on this year's global lists for under-18's.

The latter is most relevant as his agenda takes him to Singapore in August for the World Youth Olympics, an under-18 competition.

"I think I might have cheesed a few people off," said David after the 100m on Saturday (19th), "because I'm friends with alot of the guys in the event, but nobody contacted me at all for ages afterwards.  I think they were a bit shocked that an under-17 beat them, but we're all fine now."

Bolarinwa had caught the eye of the crowd right from the off, as he stormed to victory in the heats in a wind-aided 10.62 - the fastest he had ever run over the distance thus far.  Then in the semi-final he clocked 10.43, but again the wind speed was over the legal limit.

When the clock stopped in the final everyone held their breath as the wind speed was communicated to the announcer's box.

"I must admit I was a bit awe-struck when we found out the wind speed was legal," said coach John Powell, "because this puts a copletely new dimension on David's career from here on.  He will be seen as the new kid on the block, and the fun will soon become pressure as expectations rise, but he has a stable head on his shoulders and I am confident he will handle it."

Bolarinwa had not finished though as, barely 24 hours later, he was in action again in the 200 metres, making it six races in a 24-hour period, a challenge for the most senior of athletes.

The heats saw him speed round in a fastest ever 21.36, but again the wind speed was just over the permitted limit, but in the semi-final it dropped, and his 21.17 saw him fire into fifth place on the all-time lists for his age in the UK.

The final saw his first technical slip of the weekend as he didn't quite hit the bend hard enough, and he entered the straight with it all to do.  His eventual third place in 21.21s, another wind-legal mark, earned him bronze in an age-group three years his senior, and wide acclaim as the athlete of the championships.

"David had an outstanding weekend and I'm immensely proud of him," said John Powell,"because not only did he run fast, he exeited his events really well in the main, and he is learning all the time.  He's a great talent, but there is still much work to do, both before Singapore, and in the longer term before we start thinking about senior athletics."

Bolarinwa next races in the British Athletics League for his club, Cambridge Harriers, on Saturday July 3rd, after which he will be defending his English Schools 100 metres title, in Birmingham, on July 9/10th.

Trackspeed1 had one other athlete in action at Bedford on Sunday in Femi Owolade, and he too travelled back down the M1 with a smile from ear to ear.

The 22 year-old Blackheath and Bromley athlete sped through the heats of the under-23 200 metres in a lifetime's fastest 21.44 seconds in first, and progressed through the semi-finals with 21.53, although only as a fastest loser to the final.

In the final, he was drawn outside in lane eight making a solo run a real challenge, but he came off the bend well in touch with the leaders, and held on for a bronze medal he dare not have even dreamed about beforehand.

"I can't believe it," he said afterwards, "getting a PB was one thing, but winning a medal is beyond my wildest dreams, I am really happy."

Finally, the news was at last getting better for UK number three over 100 metres, James Ellington, whose tragic hamstring tear in Geneva earlier this month saw his European Championship dreams evaporate.

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier began rehabilitation work in the hydrotherapy pool on Sunday, and now must battle to prove his fitness before final selection for the Commonwealth Games.  That is likely to be mid-August at the latest.

Femi Owolade is all smiles with his 200m Bronze at Bedford.

ELLINGTON POISED FOR GLORY

Trackspeed1's James Ellington stood poised to at last make his mark among the elite of British sprinting after a scintillating 200 metre victory at Bedford today (31st May).  He was competing in the annual inter-counties championship meeting.

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier timed the fastest half-lap sprint of his illustrious career of 20.86 seconds, but it was frustratingly assisted by a 3.1m/s following wind and so won't impact on existing rankings.  It nevertheless placed the former World Junior finalist among the top performers over both sprints in the UK this year.

"James is on fire this summer," said a delighted coach John Powell who has worked with Catford-born Ellington since the age of 13 bar two seasons.  "He has wintered really well, and touch wood, all the niggles of last year seem to have cleared up.  Although the winds have been just over the permitted limit for his early outings, it's obvious he's in great shape and only a matter of time before he puts down a serious - and legal - performance."

The weekend hadn't begun quite so positively for Ellington, as he false started in the 100m heats, and was given a straight red card under the new zero tolerance rules, a repeat of the scenario in last year's Crystal palace grand prix.

"We've looked at the film John took of the start, and the guy on my right twitched which is what set me off," said James.

Ellington now looks toward next weekend when he travels to Germany with the British team for an international meeting, contesting the 100 metres and 4 x 100m relay.

Also in action over the weekend for Trackspeed1 was 27-year-old Blackheath Harrier Dwayne Grant, who was competing in a European invitation meeting in Greece.

Grant clocked a season's best 100m of 10.42s, finishing third in the A-race, and went on to time another season's fastest 21.13s over 200m, also finishing third, and with legal wind speeds in both events.

"It's really coming together well this season," said John Powell, and there are other athletes in pretty good shape who haven't really got going yet, so 2010 is looking very positive right now."

James Ellington (left) and Dwayne Grant in training before 

a productive weekend's sprinting at home and abroad.

DESTINATION: THE WORLD!

Trackspeed1 sprinters enjoyed an amazing opening day of their summer season today (Sunday 23rd) with success at home and abroad.

In Moscow, 16-year-old David Bolarinwa came within an inch of a second gold medal in three days, eventually finishing second in the 200m at the European Youth Olympics, clocking a lifetime's fastest 21.49s.

Meanwhile, back home, James Ellington opened his account at the Loughborough International meeting with his fastest ever 100m of 10.22s, albeit slightly wind aided (+2.5m/s).  Later he was awarded second leg for England seniors who proceeded to beat the Great Britain 4 x 100m relay team.

Also in action at Loughborough was Trackspeed1's Jason Hussain, who signaled a return to form with 21.58s from lane one (wind +2.3m/s).

Coach John Powell was smiling all the way back to his hotel on the Moscow Metro:

"Make no mistake, there is alot more to come yet," he said, "and this is only the start.  We knew we had athletes in form, and we haven't even seen the likes of Dwayne Grant and others in action yet.

"David did outstandingly well in Moscow, and just couldn't quite catch the Pole outside him, but gold on Friday in the 100m added to this silver makes him arguably the highest achiever as an individual in a major championship this squad has seen!

"And James has far more in the tank - don't forget he finished second ahead of Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm, Nick Smith and others - real scalps!

"And people may not think that the 2008 nightmare that saw Jason Hussain undergo punishing chemotherapy is of any relevance now, but I can say from personal experience that it is!  It rips the body apart, and the fact that he has fought back to this kind of form in little more than 18 months is a massive compliment to an exceptionally determined athlete."

John Powell will have to budget carefully this year, as his squad could potentially be competing all over the world!  Barcelona sees the European Championships, and Singapore the World Youth Olympics, where David Bolarinwa is now officially selected in the 100 metres.

"I am immensely grateful to United Kingdom Athletics (Jo Jennings in particular) for helping me attend Moscow," he said, "but I now have to work out how I can afford to get myself potentially to the Far East as well as any other majors, not to mention domestic competitions all over the UK.  And if anyone gets selected for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi....!"

ATHLETES HEAD HOME HUNGRY!

Trackspeed1 athletes training in Florida for the past 3-4 weeks arrive home this weekend hungry for competition to commence.  Initially blighted by volcano ash that delayed departure, and then electrical storms canceling their opening races, the news from the south eastern corner of the U.S. is now all good!

"We've had some set-backs," said coach John Powell, "but this has ended up being one of the most positive camps I've been on, and we have had absolutely no injury problems at all.  Times in training have progressed beyond previous years, and all everyone wants to do now is race.

"I'm not expecting PB's straight away, although most people have shown an ability to go very close already, but I would be surprised if we don't have a really good summer if everyone stays clear of injury."

Some members of Trackspeed1 will open their account at the Loughborough International meeting on Sunday 23rd, and others will wait for the annual inter-counties championships, in Bedford, on 30-31st May.

The annual pre-season camp in Florida features just about everything a track and field athlete can wish for in optimising preparation for the summer season.  The weather is clearly a huge plus, with 80-90 degrees guaranteed daily, but the training facilities put the UK to shame and explain very clearly why athletes drift away from home shores in April and May.

Trackspeed1 have partnerships with the now ESPN Wide World of Sports, and access outstanding facilities there both on track and in the gym.  Clermont's National Triathlon Training Centre provide access to six-star physio' treatment at discounted cost if and when needed, and there is an alternative track and gym facility there also.

Couple this with opportunities for developing athletes such as David Bolarinwa to train with some of the world's best seniors under the watchful eye of US sprints supremo Brooks Johnson, and it begins to look like a pretty attractive package!  Just a few photographic memories appear hereunder...

The Florida squad (l-r): Jer O'Donoghue, Dwayne Grant, 

James Ellington, Jason Hussain, front - David Bolarinwa, 

John Powell, Ellie Doel.

David Bolarinwa gets a thorough screening by manager 

Leah Dearman, at Clermont's six-star physiotherapy and 

rehabilitation facility

Training on the final day saw the previous three years' 

records re-written! L-R: Jer O'Donoghue, James 

Ellington, David Bolarinwa

Experience tells!  Seasoned international James Ellington

imparts words of wisdom with video feedback to young

prospect David Bolarinwa

No competition for Trackspeed1.  James Ellington leads 

Dwayne Grant and David Bolarinwa home in the 200m at 

a High School meeting in Orlando. 

Jason Hussain training at ESPN - his nightmare of 3 years

traveling there injured, now well behind him!

TRACKSPEED1 GROUNDED !

Trackspeed1 athletes, coach John Powell, and therapists Stuart Phazey and Lucy Eggleton, have been grounded after their pre-season training camp in Florida failed to take off following the Icelandic volcano eruption last week.

The group, who would have included British Senior Internationals Dwayne Grant, James Ellington and Set Osho, not to mention youth starlet David Bolarinwa, and others, were due to leave on Sunday.  The whole group has been rescheduled now across the next few days, but coach John Powell, along with one squad member, have been put on a flight on Wednesday, and are now counting on some rapid progress.

"We are really tight for time now," said John, "and we are counting on the fact that the volcano has calmed down a bit today and might actually see UK airspace open again in time for us to fly.  We now have Dwayne booked for Thursday, James Friday, and the rest on Sunday.  But of course all that assumes there are planes in the right place to fly on!

"It's a logistical nightmare, because if I don't fly first, all the paperwork and bookings have to go with the first athlete to travel, and if that's Dwayne, he isn't one of those in our party who has a hire car reserved, so the likelihood is that at least he would have to be rebooked again."

Meanwhile, the squad have defaulted to training back at Crystal Palace and, although there were a few discontented athletes there on Sunday morning (instead of sitting on a Boeing 747 jet!), at least the weather was perfect for a track workout originally scheduled for Florida on Tuesday!

"We've got some athletes in seriously good shape this year," said John, "so wherever we train I reckon we are on for a great summer.  It's just devastating to have a month's trip to the sun that we had all been yearning after such a terrible winter, snatched from under our noses at such short notice."

The latest update was from Sky News 4pm on Monday 19th April, saying that flights could resume in Scotland tomorrow morning, and in the south by evening, but this was dependant on the volcano (below) continuing to calm down.

ELLINGTON SIGNS OFF IN STYLE

Trackspeed1's James Ellington signed off his summer season in style at the weekend with another blistering performance over 100m in Belgium.

Ellington, whose winter preparations were blighted with injury issues stemming back over the previous two seasons, saw off top British and American opposition to win the international meet in Antwerp.

His time of 10.32s saw him finish ahead of Britain's Leon Baptiste and Dwayne Grant, with a time that now sees the fastest four races of his life all in Belgium, and all in 2009.

"James has shown tremendous character to come through the frustrations of rehab' last winter to reproduce the form of his life this year," said coach John Powell, "and the even better issue is that he is clearly still well short of his true potential. If his injury issues can now be kept at bay, 2010 could see a new face getting into the mix!"

The season, which for some individuals is still in full swing, has been a far better one for the squad than 2008, and with new names joining for winter, John Powell reckons it could be the beginning of a return to the golden years of 2002-3-4. That era saw squad athletes win European gold medals, World student titles, numerous domestic national and international honours, and of course saw Chris Lambert go to the Athens Olympic Games.

TRACKSPEED1 HEADS FOR MORE GOLDEN YEARS

Pictured: some of the most successful athletes in Trackspeed1's recent history...

As a hugely successful athletic year draws to a close, Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has reflected on his squads successes and, with some new faces poised to join this winter, he reckons the group could be heading for an amazing few years...

"The best time ever for trackspeed1 was earlier in the current decade," he said. "We had the likes of Chris Lambert, Dwayne Grant, Tim Abeyie, Phylis Agbo, James Ellington, Onen Eyong, Jonathan Simpson, and many others. All internationals, and with representation at major championships all over the globe every year, including Commonwealth and Olympic Games. And of course shortly before tht saw the first three to four years of Phillips Idowu's career.

"We've had a great year in 2009 with the likes of James Ellington hitting the form of his life, and just about everyone else either setting a PB or winning a title, or both. Now it's time to consolidate an move on.

"The current squad should be pretty much all there for next year with the exception of two who are moving away from London. We need to create an environment that means that everyone works hard together, and I am delighted that we have had approaches from some athletes who will create just that environment.

"When winter training begins on October 13th, we will have former 400m sprinter from Trackspeed1 Gavin Selway on the comeback trail, and he is already getting in shape. Moyo Sankofa, another established quarter miler, is also into preparations for his comeback to the track after a lengthy absence.

"In addition to these, we now have confirmed another very talented 100/200 sprinter who could provide great company for James Ellington, and I am due to speak to a third short sprinter in a couple of weeks who is also looking to join, and he is already at a high level. We also expect a younger 400m athlete to join, who is a top-five-ranked athlete in his age-group. It's exciting times for sure".

Whilst remaining incredibly upbeat about his quad's future, John Powell also had some stern words to say about the encouragement the sport's governing body gives to the sort of athletes he coaches:

"The elitest policy United Kingdom Athletics is following is creating a huge gulf between those athletes they focus on, and those who are battling to make the grade. This is underlined by their selection policy.

"The World/European/Olympic Trials meeting annually is anything but a trial. Unless you win with a A standard performance they don't have to select you, and if you aren't a lottery funded athlete, they won't want to unless they can help it.

"Look at the relay team in Berlin this year. It's not right to name names, but there are people in the squad there who didn't even run the 100m at the trials. James Ellington was sixth in the trials but probably wouldn't have got a second look if he had finished fourth.

"The argument that he has not been part of the relay set-up earlier in the year is a compelling one as team practice is vital to success, but let's be open about relay selection in the first place - we might as well select in January as things stand! And despite his successes this year, James hasn't a prayer of being taken back into the squad for 2010 unless he runs significantly faster in the last few weeks of the season.

Pictured: the Trackspeed1 4x100m relay quartet who clocked 40.69 in 2008 in a college meet in the USA - the fastest by an under-23 training squad ever? L-R: Phillip Doorgachurn, Wade Bennett-Jackson, James Ellington, Jason Hussain.

"I've had it with athletes every year. They do ok at the trials - peaking at the right time. But then UKA move the goalposts. Suddenly they have to run again at Crystal Palace, or Loughborough, or both. And if they don't perform again, great, they don't have to select them. It's a disgrace, and is discouraging an awful lot of very talented athletes."

John was also rueful at the way coaching has gone in recent years for those coaching the band of athletes who currently fall jut short of international fame and fortune:

"There is simply no incentive now for the upper tier of the voluntary sector of coaching. I used to get invited to manage or coach British or English sides at junior, under-23 and senior level, but now that is exclusively UKA or England employees' domain. Wouldn't it be amazing for coaches who actually produce young talent in this country to be rewarded with an international track suit themselves?

"Far from rewarding the coaches that produce the talent, the track and field heirarchy do everything in their power to take talent away from you and into their supposed 'elite' training squads. It's a shambolic situation illustrated by the fact that no sprinter who has left Trackspeed1 over the years to join other coaches has ever improved, bar the odd hundredth of a second or two.

"In fact the only two who have improved that I can think of were Tim Abeyie and Conrad Williams, and good luck to them, but both were asked to leave the squad rather than being duped by other coaches.

"Surely there is a clue there somewhere?!"

Above: John Powell with James Ellington

TRACKSPEED1 HIT OVERDRIVE ON THE BIG WEEKEND

A sensational weekend for Trackspeed1 in two major cities was hailed by coach, John Powell, as one of the best in years for his squad. And it was rounded off perfectly by a medal in the World Championships Trials, in Birmingham, for 400m sprinter Set Osho.

Set, whose season had promised to end in tatters earlier in the year as old injuries failed to respond to therapy, has switched into overdrive after things at last began to click a few weeks ago. And in Birmingham on Sunday, he topped that with his first ever senior national championship medal, despite having to run the whole race blind from lane eight!

Former European Junior gold medalist Osho, a graduate from Brunel University a year ago, and who lives in Brighton, was in the form of his life, as he cruised to an easy second place in the heats in 47.88s, but then pulled out his fourth lifetime best mark of the year in the semi-final of 46.45s. He qualified for the final in third spot, and is pictured left in the closing stages as the front three cross the line clear of the rest.

The final was one of the last events on the track of the entire championships, and placed Set in the lane he loves to hate, which left him no sight of the opposition until the final throes of the home bend. Entering the straight in fourth, he had Leeds sprinter Richard Strachan, a member of the winning British relay in the recent European team contest in his sights, and never gave up. Out-dipping him at the line earned him a bronze medal, and an outside chance of a trip to the World Championships in Berlin next month as part of the 4 x 400m relay squad.

"Set has improved vastly this year," said John Powell, "and he has a lot more in the tank. Once we resolved his injury issues, he began to deliver just as I told him he would, and he simply can't stop getting better. There were some athletes not in Birmingham, but the relay selection is far from a done deal. If Set can get a lane in the Crystal Palace Grand Prix on July 24th, another personal best a bit closer to sub-46 seconds might just put him into the mix!"

Another Trackspeed1 athlete who will certainly be running at Crystal Palace is James Ellington, whose sixth place in the 100m final ahead of Olympic Gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis, and Leevan Yearwood, who had chalked up an albeit windy 10.10s in the Bislet Games Golden League meeting a week earlier.

It was an outstanding day's work by Ellington (seen in action in Birmingham above, centre picture), who himself had put down a lifetime best 10.27s a fortnight earlier. A headwind in the Midlands eliminated any chance of that being repeated, but to reach the final of arguably the most hotly-contested and high profile event in the championships was little short of phenomenal.

"James got into the final out of grit, determination, not to mention talent," said John Powell afterwards, "and I am delighted for him. Notably he was the only athlete in that final who receives absolutely no support whatsoever from the governing body or national lottery. He is having to do things the hard way. But whatever your take on that, he cannot be denied a fantastic weekend's work off a winter that was way short of the mark. Next year he will be fitter, stronger and faster!"

Meanwhile, in Sheffield the English Schools Championships were taking place, and Trackspeed1 athletes again hit a rich vein of form. Savannah Echel-Thomson (pictured below left) shattered her lifetime best over 400m to slice almost a second off her previous best mark to record a 55.43s effort, earning bronze in the Senior Girls 400m final. Her result was a further boost to her coach while watching his seniors power through to finals in Birmingham, as he received the highly emotional call from an athlete who was busy engaging with cloud nine!

In the Intermediate Boys 400m Tom Bensted (16) was the fastest qualifier into the final, having run the fourth fastest time of his life in the semi's of 49.14, but a blanket finish saw him edged into a surprise third. It was to be a happier ending though, as he gained selection for the home international on July 18th anyway, representing England in Belfast.

"It was a close-run final apparently," said Powell, "and Tom knew he had gone out too slowly in the semi, so he tried to correct it in the final, but overcompensated. Only a tenth of a second separated all first three finishers, so it was an ok run, but it was great that he got the international for a second successive year - very few people achieve that."

In the Intermediate Girls 300m, Alleyn's School student Frederica Foster (16) from Beckenham, was expected to be among the medals, but unfortunately failed to deliver in the final and ended a disappointing fifth. It was a different story for training partner Laura Langowski, however, who produced a season's best performance in the B 400m final in Birmingham to take fourth place in a keenly contested event. The Midland Champion from Croydon said afterwards that she was pleased with her performance as it compared well with a number of top seniors who failed to deliver on the day.

Now the drama moves to Trackspeed1's home base - Crystal Palace. James Ellington has already been assured a lane in one of the 100m heats on July 24th when World Record holder and Olympic Champion Usain Bolt will feature. Set Osho should also be involved, and running on home ground where they train will undoubtedly be an advantage.

The opther resuolts from the weekend saw Ellington contesting the 200m on Sunday, but that did prove one step too far as he ran out of gas, and failed to qualify for the final. Training partner Jason Hussain continued his remarkable comeback after his serious health issues in 2008, and recorded a season's best 22.16s in the same event, but also failed to progress.

Set Osho, though, was the one who was all smiles travellilng home down the M40 on Sunday night. Below he proudly displays the bronze medal he won in Birmingham (enlarged)

OSHO IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE - JUST LIKE SAV'!

Trackspeed1 400m sprinter Set Osho showed yet again just what a class act he is developing into, as he breezed to a South of England Championship gold medal in a lifetime's fastest mark at Watford today (Sunday 21st).

Set, who has now improved on every single one of his seven outings this season, clocked a best ever 46.70s as he anihilated the field on the home straight in the final. In an immensely competitive event his year, it leaves him ranked eleventh in the UK overall, but he was barely in the top 25 three weeks ago!

Set's weekend got off to a roaring start with a season's best in the heat of 47.46, having eaten up the entire stagger on the rest by the half-way mark, and cruising in the last 80 metres. The semi was a similar run, but saw him keep the gas on to the line to record a massive personal breakthrough, with a best ever 46.76 - a time he shaved a further six hundredths off in the final the following day.

"Set was always capable of running far faster than he has done over the past three years or so," said a delighted coach John Powell, "but he undoubtedly has a long way to go yet if he is to impact on the immense depth the event has now in this country, but he is more than capable.

"His tactics weren't great in the final, and I certainly think he could have worked alot harder on the first bend, but it has to be positive if a guy is recording personal bests and still has obvious aspects of his race that can improve."

Laura wins again

In the Midland Championships, Laura Langowski chalked up an amazing fifth consecutive title as she cruised to a 55.29s win, made even more impressive given the wind and rain prevailing there (Watford was basking in sunshine and blue skies!) And as if that was not enough, she took fifth in the 200m in 25.4s - hand-timed after the electronic equipment had been packed away early!!

Savannah shines
Also in lifetime best form at Watford, was Savannah Echel-Thomson, whose excellent indoor form took a dive during the latter stages of winter due to shin soreness issues. But Watford saw her produce what she had threatened to do for some time.

Running in the Junior Women's 400m final, Sav' ran a far more solid race than in the heat when she had run the first 200m far too hard, and came home in sixth place in a best ever 56.43s.

"Sav's performance was all the better when you consider that it was from out in lane seven," said Powell, "and it was an incredibly close finish between a number of girls. We are delighted for Sav' though, because she has been frustrated by injury for so long, and we know she is worth far faster outdoors than her overall pb of 56.77, which she ran indoors in February."

Elsewhere, Frederica Foster disappointed in the 400m heats in Saturday, getting eliminatd with one her slowest runs of the year of 57.90s, but with huge academic pressures that only ended 24 hours before, her form is now fully expected to return to that which holds her as the fastest over 300m at under-17 level in the UK this year.

Powell seeths
The championship weekend got off to an incredibly sour start for Trackspeed1 coach John Powell and British International sprinter, and former South of England Champion, James Ellington. Despite Powell handing in his entry to the SEAA office in April, they denied ever receiving it, and refused James a place in either sprints event!

"This is athletics at its worst," seethed John, "and I'm sure the officials are saying it's me causing problems again. But I know I handed the entry in, and I am puzzled as to why, when there are any problems or queries about entries, it is always with the SEAA and nobody else!

"I understand the rationale behind not allowing entries on the day, but the truth is, their system of no acknowledgement of entries until it is too late after the closing date is fundamentally flawed. They should either collate entries online, or send an immediate acknowledgement. It is an absolute disgrace that an athlete like James should have his whole season compromised by being excluded from this meeting.

"I am also appalled at the way the meeting ran up to an hour late on day one, and the fact that nobody checked to see if there were enough huirdles for the event. What a farce, what a disgrace, but of course all you get at the end of the day is self congratulation by officials on catching up half the time. Consideration for athletes doesn't even enter the equation."

OSHO SET TO FLY !

Trackspeed1 are witnessing a significant comeback this summer of one of the country's most under-estimated quarter milers. Set Osho, who has featured already on recent bulletins on this site, moved up a gear on Saturday (6thJune) in his club's British League division one clash in Abingdon.

Faced with far from the ideal sunny and warm conditions of the week before, Osho (pictured in action on Saturday), who was representing Belgrave Harriers, overcame the rain cold and wind to clock 47.49 seconds in the individual 400 metres event. It was a tenth faster than the Bedford Games seven days earlier, and showed all the signs of holding a significantly faster time still, despite still being relatively early in the season.

He didn't have to wait long! In the 4 x 400m relay he took on last leg where his club had slipped to seventh place, but was clearly not deterred. He swept through the field to close a huge gap to fifth, and was awarded an official split time of 46.0s - the fastest of his life by far, and one that had his coach positively salivating!

"Those were two very classy runs," said John Powell afterwards, "and although he knows he could have executed the individual race better, the relay shows just how much there is in his legs this year, despite a very shakey winter."

Osho was in the British Junior gold medal winning team over 4x400m in Lithuania three years ago, but has not made an impact in the higher agegroups. This, despite many leading authorities, including Trackspeed1 Training Consultant and USA Olympic sprints coach, Brooks Johnson, acclaiming him as world class! The next few weeks of this season therefore, and with a full winter, the 2010 season, could see a new name in the headlines if current progress is anything to go by!

In the same meeting, Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington cruised to wins in the 100m in 10.90 despite a headwind of -1.9m/s, and the 200m in 21.89s facing a headwind of -2.4m/s.

This next weekend sees a number of the younger squad members in action in their county schools events and/or Junior League fixtures, with the senior South of England Championships, at Watford, on 20th and 21st June a week later.

ELLINGTON EXPLODES INTO ACTION!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington cast a winter of discontent behind him at bedford on Sunday (May 31st), and produced the second fastest 200 metres of his life - on the opening day of his season!

Competing in the Bedford International Games, the 23-year-old who has been battling hamstring and sciatic nerve problems since January, finally proved that he is back to form - and boy how he showed it! His 21.06 second blast saw off all but gateshead's Richard Kilty, who recorded a lifetime's best of 20.80. (He is pictured in lane 4 in an earlier 100m race). With a negligible 0.1m/s tail wind it was a run that staggered coach John Powell.

"I knew James was getting back to his old self, and he's looked really impresive in training of late, but we didn't really think he had quite enough gas in the tank to produce a significant 200m yet," he said. "But this puts a completely different complexion on things. He could have a really great season and turn a few heads in the process now."

Ellington had earlier opened up his 2009 account with a fine 10.66s run over 100 metres despite a headwind of -2.9m/s which, if reversed, would have converted that performnce to a personal best inside 10.3.

It was a great opening meet also for Trackspeed1's number one 400m sprinter Set Osho. Another athlete who had been struggling with niggles for a fair bit of the winter produced one of his fastest 400's ever, recording 47.58s to win his race.

"Set executed his race perfectly," said Powell, "he went out hard, consolidated mid-race, and then had the strength to push on down the final straight. He's going to pb this year for sure, and I don't mind going on record to say so!"

As if this wasn't enough, 16-year-old Tom Bensted was in the same race, confronted with senior opposition for the first time ever, and was rewarded with a draw on the outside lane! Yet he still finished fifth with one of his fastest times - 49.43s - which puts him well over a second faster than this time last year!

The only slight disappointment of the day was Frederica Foster's 57.40s run in her 400m race, but being swamped with GCSE exams at present, it may be a couple of weeks before she rekindles the form that took her to 56.22 indoors in February.