TRAINING SUSPENDED!

Trackspeed1 coach, John Powell, suspended training for the first time ever today, due to the extreme weather conditions enveloping the whole of the south east.

"Crystal Palace is on a very steep hill, never gets cleared of snow, and the whole scenario is so treacherous it would be ridiculous to expect athletes to struggle in," he said. "Even if they got there, freezing after dark would make a journey home perilously dangerous. Transport networks locally are virtually at a standstill anyway."

John's message to his athletes though this website is as follows:

"Training tomorrow (Thursday 7th) is cancelled. If you can access a local gym, do some tick- over work, then fine. If you are due to compete at Lee Valley on Sunday, I strongly advise you to check relevant websites to ensure it goes ahead. Please contact me for individual sessions meanwhile.

"At present training at Crystal Palace on Sunday morning for those not competing is still taking place. I will update via text or this website if that changes."

BOLARINWA TAKES WORLD SILVER

Sixteen-year-old wonder-kid, David Bolarinwa, grabbed a superb 100 metres silver at the World Schools Championships, in Qatar last week. And his time of 10.76s was the second fastest of his life, despite the event coming in December when most sprinters are grafting through speed endurance and conditioning work!

He was beaten by fellow Brit, Jordan Arthur (10.67s), but with Arthur entering the under-20 ranks in 2010, and David still an under-17, David's performance simply underlined his immense promise as a real contender for honours in the not-too-distant future.

"There's no two ways about it," said coach John Powell, "David is a talent, and his silver medal at the Worlds was very well deserved, but he knows he has a very long way to go to break through to the big time in the real world.

"He hasn't been in Trackspeed1 for long to be fair, but I can say that he has already shown huge potential, and some of the seniors are already beginning to take him under their wing. He has big issues with his start and drive phase that need alot of work, but that is great news, because with a few basics being sorted pout, he can obviously run alot faster."

David is hoping to go warm weather training with his new squad to Florida in April, and that would represent a massive opportunity for him to prepare perfectly for his summer season, but that will depend on whether he gets funding to support him or not. He has already been rejected for Lottery funding, so only time will tell !

POWELL SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS COACHING AWARD

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell scooped a high profile award at the recent Sportscoach UK coaching awards night, in Old Billingsgate, London.

The prestigious award, made at a glittering ceremony MC'd by BBC presenter John Inverdale, recognised John and the three other coaches who had been instrumental in guiding Triple Jumper Phillips Idowu's career to his World Championship gold in 2009.

The rewarding coaching excellence 'coaching chain' award was presented by Phillips on stage in front of a 600-strong audience, to his school teacher Humphrey Long, John Powell, who coached him as a junior, and John Herbert plus current coach Aston Moore.

Phillips spent four profitable seasons with Trackspeed1, peaking with a fourth place in the European Junior Championships, in Slovenia, in 1997. He improved from 12.32m to 16.36m bneforr moving on to John Herbert as a senior athlete.

Kevin Tyler, Strategic Head of Coaching and Development for UK Athletics, said: "This was a well deserved award. This is a great example of four coaches working unselfishly to help shape Phillips' life and athletic career. All (sic) are to be commended, the sport is fortunate to have you".

John Powell said: "I was delighted we won the award, it was a lovely evening, and great to have it presented by the athlete. Phillips is a superb example of what young athletes can achieve even if they aren't majopr medal winners in early years."

TRACKSPEED1 TURN UP THE HEAT IN WINTER

Trackspeed1 are back on the track after the hard graft of hill running and base training, and things are beginning to look decidedly positive for 2010.

The initial squad list has, as always, been adjusted by either athletes not reporting back for training, or failing to measure up in the early stages of the athletic year, but coach John Powell reckons now he has the hardest working group of athletes he has ever worked with.

"We've gone through significant change over the past year or so," said John, "and we have lots of new faces, but I am really enjoying working with them because the vast majority really do want to put in the work and are a truly fantastic bunch to be around.

"There have been some tough decisions and changes of late, but I have made it clear that there are minimum standards you have to adhere to if you want to be part of Trackspeed1 now, and if you don't measure up you are out, and some athletes have sadly gone that way. But the result is a diverse but cohesive unit of real talent that is working incredibly well together.

"The indoor season is not so far away now and, although not everyone will be competing on the boards, there will be one or two TS1 athletes who really do promise to send a shiver up the spine of the opposition."

John Powell is pictured above with some of his senior athletes, Set Osho (left) together with Jason Hussain and James Ellington (right).

The competitive season begins exceptionally early though for new teenage prospect David Bolarinwa, who travels to Qatar in early December to compete for England Schools in the World Schools Championships, an event that has incensed John Powell:

"It is madness sending speed athletes out to a competition this time of the year", he said. It completely disrupts the winter training programme, and without adequate preparation presents a huge injury risk. I totally understand David wanting to take advantage of the opportunity such a trip presents, but in relation to longer term objectives it is crazy."

Asked who he thinks could impress in the New Year either indoors or out, John was reluctant to commit:

"It's early days, and everyone is looking good, but I do think that Femi Owolade could be a dark horse next year, James Ellington is heading for the shape of his life, and Jason Hussain is well on the way back to former glories after some challenging times. Combine that with the younger talent of David Bolarinwa and Omari Carr-Miller, and we could be looking at one of the best years of the decade!"

Trackspeed1's new look squad roll is as follows:

Samuel Adeyemi Senior Men 100/200m County level

Alex Blair Senior Men 400m County level

David Bolarinwa U-17 Men 100/200m International level

Omari Carr-Miller U-17 Men 400m National level

Ellie Doel U-23 Women 400m County level

Danny Doyley U-23 Men 100/200m National level

James Ellington Senior Men 100/200m International level

Frederica Foster Junior Women 400m National level

Kobie Fuller* Senior Men 400m Regional level

Dwayne Grant Senior Men 100/200m International level

Layla Hawkins Senior Women 400m National level

Jason Hussain Senior men 200m National level

Jack Miller Junior Men 100/200m County level

Jer O'Donoghue** Senior Men 100/200m National level

Dele Onifade U-23 Men 100/200m International level

Set Osho Senior Men 400m International level

Femi Owolade Senior Men 200/400m National level

Gavin Selway Senior Men 400m National level

Bukola W-Dyer U-17 Women 100/200m County level

* Based in Boston, USA

** Based in Ireland, but visiting London throughout winter

TRACKSPEED1 EVER STRONGER

Trackspeed1 confirmed who coach John Powell suspects will be the final new face to join the group this winter, as former Trackspeed1 multi-events teen, Layla Hawkins.

Layla had been waiting patiently to make a comeback into the sport after stress fractures in both feet sidelined her long term after a successful teenage contesting heptathlons.

Now 23, Layla (pictured here back in 2004) is serious about her training and is delighted to be back in her old training group.

"I really want to work hard," she said, "and see what I can achieve. I'm not one of these people who is simply social athlete."

"Layla always was a real talent," said John Powell, "and she never came close to her true potential. I just hope this time she can use a less fragile, adult body constructively toward success next summer."

Layla will focus on the 400m, which pitches her alongside new training partners Frederica Foster, Ellie Doel, and Savannah Echel-Thomson. She will also renew acquaintancs with athletes who were part o;f Trackspeed1 when she was last training, including Dwayne Grant and James Ellington.

"We really do have an amazing group now," said John, "made even better by the fact that everyone, irrespective of age, has an incredibly mature and hard-working approach to what is a really tough time training-wise. If it is maintained, people are going to fly in the New Year!"

TRACKSPEED1 OFF TO A FLYER

Trackspeed1 2009-10 has been hailed by coach John Powell as the most focussed yet, as training speeds through week two. And with the surprise return to the squad of British Olynmpic sprinter Dwayne Grant, the quality of this group is improving all the time.

"It is great to have Dwayne back," said John, "He returns after a seven-year absence. He is an immensely experienced athlete, will be a huge asset to the group, and hopefully we will also be able to get him back to his best next year."

Grant began his running days with John as his coach when he was an under-13, and went on to earn his early Junior International honours with him, including a European 200m bronze medal, and a gold at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Chile (4 x 100m relay). He also won numerous domestic titles.

Both athlete and coach have remained the firmest of friends since his move on to pastures new in 2002 however, and now both are hoping they can recapture the kind of form both know the athlete is capable of, in 2010.

"It has been quite incredible how the group has turned around in the last twelve months," John went on. "We had a small squad in 2009 who worked incredibly hard and competed outstandingly well, but we have now grown back to a group of around 20 athletes, the vast majority of whom are or have been internationals.

"I even had a text out of the blue this week from another high standard ex-athlete who is looking to make a return, and she is meeting us to discuss things next week.

"But where we are now is that we have a group of athletes who are really grafting in every session, and the levels of motivation are immense. Even athletes like James Ellington, who joined the squad over ten years ago, admits that levels of enthusiasm and morale are at an all-time high."

To track the group's progress through the winter months, log into this blog which will be updated with any news of developments at the Palace.

ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL SIGNS UP TO TS1

David Bolarinwa, one of the most exciting teenage sprint prospects of 2009, has joined Trackspeed1 as a last minute addition to the squad, who began training this week (13th).

David, from Thamesmead, who won the English Schools, UK Schools, and British Schools international titles over 100m to name but three, was looking for a squad to push him to the next level, and approached coach John Powell ten days ago.

"We're delighted to have David," said John. "He's an obvious talent and will fit into the group very well indeed. I think he wil have a lot to offer us as well as the group having much to offer him. His previous coach has obviously done a great job in getting him this far."

A couple of last minute changes saw Yomi Adeyemi change his mind about wanting to train with brother Samuel, and opted for TS1's partner group under the tutelege of Donovan Reid. And Moyo Sankofa decided at the eleventh hour not to make his comeback with TS1 after all, despite having been prep' training for some weeks.

"The squad is the best we've had in years now," enthused John Powell. "They have started up so motivated and work really well together. If the work ethic progresses, then heads could be turning in our direction this next season."

TRACKSPEED1 NAMES THE SQUAD FOR 2010

Trackspeed1 has, as always, a slightly different look about it for the coming training phase, with new names appearing along with some who have moved on. Full details have now been announced...

Samuel Adeyemi Senior Men 100/200m County level

Yomi Adeyemi Senior Men 200/400m County level

Tom Bensted Junior Men 400m Regional level

Alex Blair Senior Men 400m County level

Mark Brown Senior Men 400m International level

Omari Carr-Miller U-17 Men 400m National level

Ellie Doel U-23 Women 400m County level

Danny Doyley U-23 Men 100/200m National level

Sav'nah E-Thomson* Junior Women 400m National level

James Ellington Senior Men 100/200m International level

Frederica Foster Junior Women 400m National level

Kobie Fuller** Senior Men 400m Regional level

Jason Hussain Senior men 200m National level

Jack Miller Junior Men 100/200m County level

Jer O'Donoghue*** Senior Men 100/200m National level

Dele Onifade U-23 Men 100/200m International level

Set Osho Senior Men 400m International level

Femi Owolade Senior Men 200/400m National level

Moyo Sankofa Senior Men 400m Regional level

Gavin Selway Senior Men 400m Regional level

Bukola W-Dyer U-17 Women 100/200m County level

* Based at Loughborough University during term time 2009-10

** Based in Boston, USA

*** Based in Ireland, but regular London visits

Leaving the squad after 2008-9 were Phillip Doorgachurn, Laura Langowski (moved north), and Confidence Lawson.

Another international joins Trackspeed1

Just as the squad announced its new composition for winter, one further athlete has signed up to training at Crystal Palace for the next year at least.

British Junior International, Deli Onifade, whose PB's in the sprints of 21.58 and 10.63 are likely to dip quickly, as he has spent most of 2009 combating an achilles injury, contacted John Powell this weekend (4/10).

"I'm delighted to have Deli joining the group," said John, "although it will be on a month's trial to begin with to make sure we like each other! But I'm sure there won't be a problem. It's great to have an athlete of his calibre added to the mix, and I'm sure he will find his new training environment a really positive one.

"We now have an excellent mix of specialist sprinters and 400m athletes, with a potential weakness over the shorter distances now well and truly patched up."

The squad return to training on October 13th. John Powell is currently in Boston, combining vacation with coaching some Stateside athletes and liaising with contacts at Harvard University.

THE NEW TRACKSPEED1 TAKES SHAPE FOR WINTER

Trackspeed1 is poised to return to training on October 13th as a squad yet stronger than the hugely successful group of '09.

"We have inherited some serious talent this close season,." said coach John Powell, "and I really can't wait to get started. The schedules are written, and everyone should now be into preparation training. Anyone who turns up on 13th clearly out of shape will be sent away, but I'm sure that won't be necessary."

The squad have lost three athletes this year in Welsh 100m Champion Phil Doorgachurn, and English International and Midland Champion over 400m Laura Langowski, along with sprinter Confidence Lawson. But that has been more than compensated for with the new faces.

Former British Junior International Danny Doyley joins the squad, along with former south-coast based Ellie Doel (400m), who will partner Frederica Foster in training. Additionally, Blackheath's Femi Owolade (Nigerian Junior International) joins the fray, along with UK under-15 400m champion Omari Carr-Miller, the youngest member of the group.

Brothers Samuel and Yomi Adeyemi, coupled with Moyo Sankofa, and former TS1 athlete Gavin Selway, complete the new names to the group, with John Powell oozing positivity for the coming important training phase.

"We've got a tremendous mix now," he said, "and it is a vast improvement on what we had a year or two ago. Not only the talent, but we have some really good people here now, and I am absolutely convinced we can all work together toward some serious achievements in 2010.

"Gavin was with us before and we know what sort of talent he is, Omari is a great prospect if he can convert potential into reality, and Moyo has a track record that suggests similar potential."

John Powell was speaking from his base in Boson, USA, where he is currently working alongside Harvard University coaches as well as taking a well-earned break before winter training begins. The squad reconvenes on October 13th at Crystal Palace.