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 OUT OF THE BLOCKS

Trackspeed1 at last kicked off their 2010 outdoor season today (Saturday 8th) at the Florida Gliders Spring Classic meeting, at Lake Brantley High School, Orlando, USA.

Amid searing heat that reached 102 degrees, and no shelter provided at the venue from the sun all day, it was a tough day out for even the most experienced sprinters.  As it was though, some encouraging performances from most concerned will send them back to the UK next Saturday (15th) knowing that this summer promises potential rich rewards.

Former European relay gold medalist James Ellington, and World Cup gold medalist Dwayne Grant, locked horns in both sprints, with Ellington coming out on top - just - on both occasions.  He clocked 10.59s for the 100m - his fastest ever start to a campaign - while Grant clocked 10.67s.  Young David Bolarinwa completed a one-two-three for Trackspeed1 in third, timing the second fastest time of his life of 10.74s.

In the 200m, Ellington crossed the line in 21.37s, Grant in 21.43, with Bolarinwa trailing in third in 22.02s, heavily affected by the intense afternoon sun.

James Ellington (left) and Dwayne Grant lock horns in the 200m

Ellington pips Grant in the 100m at Lake Brantley

The one other event Trackspeed1 were involved in was the 4x100m relay where expectation was high for a fast time, but the mid-day heat combined with no competition at all, saw a solo quartet complete the lap in a rather tame 41.34s.

GODS NOT LOOKING KINDLY ON TRACKSPEED1

The second "act of God" in less than a month frustrated Trackspeed1's pre-season preparations yesterday (6th May), as electrical storms prevented their opening competition from taking place.

The annual University of Central Florida Twilight track meet, a traditionally high class affair, failed to kick off as the skies clouded over, the rain poured down, and thunder and lightening put the whole UCF campus on 'red alert'.

"We're all frustrated as anything," said coach John Powell, because we simply can't wait to get going this year, but we have the Lake Brantley meet tomorrow (May 8th)."

Trackspeed1 have all their Florida athletes competing at the Florida Gliders Spring Classic meeting at Lake Brantley High School, Orlando.  "It's a bit of a crazy meeting with loads of kids and a rather unpredictable timetable," explained John, "but the senior races are usually pretty classy, and we know some from the UCF event may well be chasing late entries."

In true American style, the timetable begins at 7.30am and works through to 5pm.  Looking to be in action over 100m will be James Ellington, David Bolarinwa, Dwayne Grant and Jer O'Donoghue, with all bar O'Donoghue in the 200m with the addition of Jason Hussain.

The squad will also make a late entry in the 4 x 10m relay to see if their quartet of O'Donoghue, Grant, Bolarinwa and Ellington can crack the 40-second barrier, which would see them into the IAAF world rankings as a training group - possibly the first European squad to do so!

With UCF cancelled, we were able to do a couple of baton changes at the ESPN track today (Friday)," said John, so we'll see what happens.  At the end of the day it's about the individual events mainly, although a good relay would be a great boost early on in the year for everyone."

 

Trackspeed1 relay practice at the ESPN training track today (7th)

Storms sweep across the UCF track yesterday, postponing Trackspeed1's kick-off to the new season by 48 hours.  They compete at Lake Brantley tomorrow (8th)

BOLARINWA RUBS SHOULDERS STATESIDE WITH THE WORLD'S BEST!

Trackspeed1's pre-season training camp in Central Florida is switching into overdrive with some athletes beginning to show some outstanding form, but that is not all.

Sixteen-year-old Woolwich Poly student, David Bolarinwa, from Thamesmead, rubbed shoulders with some of the world's top athletes on Tuesday, as he completed a blocks session under the tutelage of leading USA sprints coach Brooks Johnson, alongside Trackspeed1's own John Powell.

Athletes lining up alongside David included Olympic hurdles medalist David Oliver, and Dwight Thomas, Jamaican Olympic sprint relay gold medalist.  America's Xavier Carter, one of the fastest men in history over 200m, was also on hand for advice.

"This was the experience of a lifetime for David at his stage of development," said John Powell, "we both learned alot.  It's the best opportunity going from my point of view to have another set of eyes look at your athlete, because they are almost certain to pick stuff up you've missed."

David, obviously thrilled at the whole deal, made a few adjustments through the session, and ended barely a yard behind some of his new found training group for the day as they blasted out of the blocks over 20-30 metres.

David (in yellow) powers out of the blocks with some of the world's fastest.

David said afterwards: "That was an amazing experience and I kept having to pinch myself that I was actually running alongside those guys.  You see them on TV, and you read about their results, but this was some of them training just like the rest of us.  It helps you realise nobody is superhuman and anything is achievable if you really want it.  This has really doubled my determination to work hard over the next few years, and then it will be me entertaining the apprentice!"

Meanwhile, Trackspeed1 now face their first serious competition of the season as they contest the University of Central Florida (UCF) Twilight Track and Field Meeting this week, and then the Florida Gliders Spring Classic Meeting at the weekend.  

The UCF meeting could see a bit of athletics history made as the 4 x 100m relay team of Jer O'Donoghue, Dwayne Grant, David Bolarinwa, and James Ellington, aim to crack 40 seconds as a squad team, and become the first training group to break into the IAAF world rankings!

Some more images of David's session appear below, beginning with the end-of-session handshake between Brooks Johnson, who is also Trackspeed1's Training Advisor, John Powell, and David...

TRACKSPEED1 TUNING UP FOR ACTION

Trackspeed1 athletes originally grounded by the volcanic ash crisis, finally made it to their pre-season training camp in Central Florida last week, and are already looking trim ahead of their fist competition next week.

Coach John Powell was one of the first on a plane following days of suspense waiting to see if the squad could actually travel at all, but was in a confident mood despite a week's worth of training being lost.

"The UK weather was actually quite good during the time we were waiting to travel," he said, "and so the sessions we would have done in Florida were still quite good quality.  But there's nothing quite like the Florida climate and the facilities over here to get an athlete on top of their game.

"Speaking from the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, in Orlando, Powell added: "athletes here can focus on optimising their performance 24/7 if they want to, and that is great preparation for summer.  This last UK winter has been a nightmare, and training in some decent facilities in brilliant sunshine is about as good as it gets!"






















James Ellington warms up for the first track session in Florida at the ESPN track facility.


Trackspeed1 kick off their season next Thursday (May 6th) in the University of Central Florida Twilight Meet, in Orlando.  Traditionally a high level meet, the likes of James Ellington and young prospect david Bolarinwa, will be among Powell's protégées looking to impress early on in the summer calendar.

The squad will also be fielding a 4 x 100m relay team to see if they can beat the hugely impressive 40.69 second mark set two years ago at the same meeting - a performance that ranked as one of the fastest by any British domestic team in 2008, let alone a training squad.

The team that year consisted of Wade Bennett-Jackson, Jason Hussain, Phillip Doorgachurn and James Ellington.  This year it will be selected from James Ellington, Dwayne Grant, Jason Hussain, David Bolarinwa, Jer O'Donoghue, and Set Osho, with a very real prospect of a time close to 40 seconds if the change-overs go well.

"In the States, meets always begin with the sprint relays, which is a great way of getting into things without the pressure of an individual event," said John.  "It'll be fun, but of course we're really there to focus on how everyone is shaping up for the season."

Trackspeed1 compete again just 48 hours later at the Florida Gliders Spring Classic Meet, in Altamonte Springs, on Saturday 8th May.

Jason Hussain receives intensive therapy from squad physio's Lucy Eggleton and Stuart Phazey!

LATEST UPDATE RE: WARM WEATHER TRAINING

Trackspeed1 athletes due to fly to Florida for pre-season training last weekend are still rooted in the UK.  The Icelandic volcano continues to frustrate their trip, as well as those of many others.

A multi-agency meeting of key agencies including the British Government is scheduled for 7pm today 20th April, and Virgin Atlantic are updating passengers via their website at 10.30pm.

Coach John Powell and one athlete are rescheduled to travel tomorrow 21st at 1pm.  "The good news is that we haven't been cancelled yet," said John, "but it's getting very tight again, and if we are cancelled again, it gets hugely complicated with other athletes on different flights potentially flying ahead and having to manage cars and accommodation bookings themselves.

"The next availability is Monday at the earliest apparently, so a further cancellation makes this a real nightmare.  Much longer and we would have to evaluate how beneficial a trip would be from a training perspective, although I suspect some athletes will want to travel whenever they can."

FLORIDA UPDATE FOR TS1 ATHLETES

Further to the last bulletin on this site, the following should be noted by TS1 athletes expecting to travel to Florida this week...

Virgin Atlantic are going to fly additional planes out to Orlando from 7pm tomorrow.  These will be overnight and in addition to those scheduled to help the 8500 people stranded in Florida.

These planes will be booking soon, and there will be a chance that the whole party can get seats on them.  Everyone therefore needs to be ready to go to Gatwick tomorrow afternoon should they need to.

It would seem the worst scenario now is that John Powell and Jason Hussain will travel no later than Wednesday, Dwayne Grant as scheduled on Thursday, James Ellington on Friday, and the remainder of the party on Sunday.

Everyone involved must have their mobiles available for updates, as if the bookings are changed, you will have to fly early or your booking is lost!!

Any queries, call John Powell on his mobile.

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.

HUSSAIN PASSES WITH FLYING COLOURS

Trackspeed1 stalwart Jason Hussain passed an early health check with flying colours at Crawley on Sunday (28th March), as he stormed to a 300m victory almost a second ahead of the rest of the field.

Competing in a local open meeting, and anxious to put a nightmare two years behind him, the former British Junior International clocked an outstanding 34.88 seconds to underline just how well training is now going.

Jason suffered the ultimate nightmare in 2008 with a summer of misery undergoing chemotherapy which threatened his very athletics career, and the legacy of that holed last year's season below the waterline.  2010 though, it would seem, is likely to be a whole different ball game!

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was impressed as he witnessed Hussain's Sussex run: "Jason ran well, and for where we are in training right now, anything below 35 seconds is great," he said.  "We learned alot from the race too - stuff we can work on to improve his 200m as his main event this year.  After his last couple of years, it was great to see him walk off the track with a smile on his face too."

Hussain's closest rival in Crawley clocked just over 35.7, and his performance was undoubtedly one of the best at the meeting, which represented an exceptionally early test for track athletes.  Hussain will now train on for three weeks before leaving for the squad's pre-season training camp in Florida where he will work on final preparations for the summer season for four weeks.

BOLARINWA HEADS TO MOSCOW

Trackspeed1's newest young sprints ace, David Bolarinwa, is heading to Moscow just days after returning from the United States on the squad's warm weather training camp.  The 16-year-old Cambridge Harrier has been selected to compete for Great Britain in the European Youth Olympics.

Bolarinwa, together with coach John Powell, return from the 4-week training camp, which will include at least one competitive outing at the University of Central Florida's high profile annual spring meet, and have just four days in the UK before going through another set of time zones east to the Russian capital.

The event represents the trials for the main event of the year, the World Youth Olympics, in Singapore, in August, and the powers that be reckon Trackspeed1's representative has a great chance of qualifying.  Right now the plan is that he will compete in the 100 metres.