TRACKSPEED1 SNOWBOUND!

For the first time in his 35-year coaching career, Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has been forced to cancel squad training for two successive sessions due to the freak weather conditions enveloping the south east.

Almost 18 inches of snow around his home would not ever be a problem, but no trains runing on Southeastern, buses on severely restricted services, roads being lethal for driving, and the threat of worse to come, all make it nonsensical to attempt to reach Crystal palace.

"Crystal Palace is closed tonight anyway," said John, "and getting there right now is a virtual impossibility.  This is really bad news for us with an indoor season just around the corner.  I can only hope that the athletes can do something at home or near home to keep things ticking over for now.

"We intend to have a session at Crystal Palace at 12 noon on Sunday unless things worsen, but we can only pray they don't - even then we will be restricted to an indoor track 80 metres long - the outdoor track is never cleared of snow and will probably be out of commission for another week at least."

Meanwhile, Trackspeed1 athletes are asked by their coach to keep an eye on their mobiles for updates by text.  If they haven't been receiving these then they should let John know their correct mobile number.  A final decision on Sunday will be circulated on Saturday.

The Crystal Palace outdoor track is never cleared of snow and is likely
 to remain unusable to Trackspeed1 and the many other athletes whose
training base it is for many days to come.  Coach John Powell described
the situation as "shambolic" and "endemic of the attitude to athletics in
this country...  We produce international standard athletes every year
despite training in a sub-standard facility, but this really doesn't make
life any easier."

TRACKSPEED1 ATHLETES RANKED AMONG THE ALL-TIME BEST

Trackspeed1 sprinter Chris Lambert, who dominated many of the athletics headlines earlier in the last decade, gains ninth spot n the all-time best UK 200m performances this week.

Lambert, an Olympian whose career arguably peaked in 2003 when he won gold in the Wolrd Student Championships, and double gold in the Europen under-23 Championships, still holds the event record for the latter event with his blistering 20.34s 200m effort in Poland that year.

"I remember the race as if it were yesterday," said coach John Powell.  "Chris came off the bend in fifth, but simply switched on the after-burners in the straight.  The Polish crowd were on their feet screaming, with local boy Jedrusinski in the lead.

"Chris out-dipped him on the line though, and the whole stadium fell silent as I screamed 'yes' - instantly regretting a sudden and unwanted focus of attention in my direction!"

Elsewhere in the hall of fame published in Athletics Weekly this week is under-17 sprinter david Bolarinwa, who streaks away at the top of the UK national rankings for both 100m and 200m.  He sits at the head of the 100m lists with his world under-18 leading time of 10.39s - some four tenths of a second off the next best electronic and wind-legal performance.

In the 200m his best of 21.17s this year leads from second-ranked 21.77 - a huge margin, which establishes him as the sprints prospect coming through the ranks for future years.

Placed 11th in the U17 400m lists is 15-year-old Omari Carr-Miller, whose 49.60s lap took him to sixth in the national schools final, despite being amongst opponents over a year his elder.  This was an especially impressive performance as he spent most of the winter laid up with a stress fracture in one shin.  His rehabilitation was decribed by John Powell as one of the most frustrating possible for a keen teenager.  "His resolve throughout was commendable", he said.

Elsewhere in the under-17 list can be found newcomers to Trackspeed1 this winter, including Edmond Amaning who sits in fifth spot over 200m with 21.94s (21.84 windy), and Tunde Judun who sits in 11th place in the 100m lists with a best of 10.92s (10.81 windy).

"There's a great job been done with these athletes to date," said John Powell, "and I only hope we can continue that with progress to new highs next year."

Lambert has since been dogged by injury after injury and has retired from the sport.  Even his appearance in the Athens Olympics ended in tears when he pulled up with hamstring trouble.  But with the other Trackspeed1 athletes, the future looks as bright as ever.  Combine them with the likes of senior training partners Dwayne Grant and James Ellington to name but two, and one might reasonably expect a few more headlines in 2011 !

"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."

TRACKSPEED1 READY FOR LIFT OFF !

The preliminaries are over, the new guys have been briefed and, despite a slight alteration to the start date, this weekend sees the new Trackspeed1 squad for this winter swing back into action.

The group will reconvene at Crystal Palace on Sunday (October 10th) when every athlete will be put through a rigorous fitness test to assess just how well their preparation training has gone.

"There's no messing around this year," said coach John Powell, " I am absolutely not interested in anyone who is not willing to put the work in.  If I can get up at 5am to go to work in order to ensure I can make training, the least my athletes can do is apply themselves to the job in hand."

Talking of the new faces who have joined the group, John was extremely upbeat about their prospects, but lamented what he referred to as the "usual gossip" about how they came to join the squad:

"I haven't taken on anyone who I do not believe 100 per cent can improve with our training regime - what would be the point?  There's been the usual banter though about athletes moving around between coaches this summer, but I sleep easy at night - every one of the new athletes to Trackspeed1 approached us first, and not the other way round.

"It's never pleasant losing an athlete to another coach (heaven knows, I do know!) but you have to move on - no coach owns an athlete and if the athlete wants to move on there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."

Mark Brown rejoins Trackspeed1 for the coming winter.

John was especially delighted that former Trackspeed1 400m sprinter Mark Brown has returned to the squad after a 2-year absence.  His personal best of 46.3 back in 2008 he hasn't come close to since, and is now hoping that he can rekindle the form that brought him to within one trial race of a place in the Beijing Olympic Games.

POWELL'S ULTIMATUM TO CLASS OF 2011 !

Although still on vacation in the U.S., Trackspeed1 coach John Powell today fired a warning shot across the bows of all his squad of 2010-11, saying that they need to be fit to stay with the group past day one!

Squad training restarts on Thursday October 7th, although it is highly likely that Powell will call together the considerable number of new faces a couple of days before that.

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell takes time out on holiday to relax as
well as have a bit of fun before the serious business of winter training,
which begins early next month.

"We have become quite popular of late," said John who is currently in Las Vegas, " and I have had to turn a number of athletes down who have approached us.  Numbers are in fact a little higher than I would have liked, but that is fine as long as every last one of them realise what is expected.

"We begin with a fitness test and anyone failing to impress will get their marching orders.  If they can't be bothered to get fit to train, then I can't be bothered to invest the time and effort needed to see them through our winter programme.

"All the new faces will be required to meet at Crystal Palace on Tuesday 5th for a meeting where I will spell out very clearly where the goalposts are in terms of continued association with the squad.  After that, it is up to them.

"We have massive potential for 2011 now both among the younger ranks and the seniors, and I would even ay we have at least 2-3 candidates for potential contention for 2012.  But potential means nothing until it is realised."

John has stamped a new motto on every page of the squad's new winter training schedule which reads: "Train hard, win easy".  It was the trademark of World under-18 100m number one David Bolarinwa this year, but both agreed it could be adopted as a simple but most effective motto for all.


Are YOU new to Trackspeed1 this winter?  Make sure John has your mobile number and email address or you won't get squad / training updates over the coming weeks!

Trackspeed1 September News

Trackspeed1 athletes have now all completed another great summer season and are taking a well-earned rest before winter training begins.

The winter schedules commence on Thursday October 7th, when the new-look squad will gather at Crystal Palace and face immediate scrutiny buy their coach with a fitness test.

"I'm not interested in athletes who sit on their backsides completely during the rest period," said John powell, "and everyone is expected to be 'fit to train' on 7th, and a little test will show exactly who is and who isn't.

It's a great squad for 2010-11 and if everyone works together, we could see some really dramatic headlines on this site next year!"

SQUAD 2011 TAKING SHAPE

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has revealed that the training squad that will carry the group's label into 2011 is finally taking shape after an unprecedented number of requests from new joiners.

Several athletes, many as a result of visiting this site, have expressed interest in training at Crystal Palace this winter, but only a very elite few have been given the nod.

"It's great that people want to join us," said John, "but quite apart from keeping numbers down to a practical level, Trackspeed1's reputation revolves around international athletes or young athletes who have developed to a high standard, many internationally, from novice.

"I always want to keep my feet on the ground with young blood, but I have to respect my senior athletes whose lives revolve around their success or otherwise, and their training environment is of paramount importance.

"This said, we have some outstanding talent joining the squad this winter, and probably now have one of the strongest squads we have had for a while.  The new year could be very exciting indeed."

Joining the likes of Youth Olympic Games double medalist David Bolarinwa, former Olympian Dwayne Grant, and British number four over 100m, James Ellington, will be another English Schools 200m Champion, Edmond Amaning.  Bolarinwa, Grant, and Ellington all won schools titles on their way through the sport.

In addition, Lawrence Wooldridge, a 21.5 / 48.2 200/400m sprinter joins the Palace squad and will be excellent company for the Trackspeed1 seniors.  And then there is the potential dark horse of junior sprinting fo[r 2011, 17-year-old Reyss Albert.  Reyss is in town from native Grenada, but is a British citizen, and has two years as an under-20 to go, with a pb of 10.66s over the 100m sprint.

"Reyss is far from in shape at present," said John, "but if he works hard he could really turn heads next year."

John has also admitted two or three younger athletes to wrap around his younger squad members this year which, he says, "adds a really good balance" to training for this winter.  "I hate saying no to athletes," he went on, "but you've got to be practical.  I just hope the guys we have taken on prove they were worth it!"

SATURDAY SHOWDOWN FOR BOLARINWA

Trackspeed1's David Bolarinwa faces a Saturday evening showdown with his Jamaican rival in the first ever Youth Olympic Games 100 metres final, 2110hrs local time (1410 UK).

See his blog for a full report on today's heats, and how Britain's world leader in the event at the moment qualified for the final as the fastest in all five heats...

DAVID READY TO ROCK!

Trackspeed1 sprinter is ready for the off in Singapore as he completed his final preparatory training session today at the Anglo-English Independent School facility.

See his regular daily update at the link top left of this site's home page.  He starts the 100m in the first ever Youth Olympic Games on Wednesday as the fastest under-18 in the world...

BOLARINWA TO MAKE HISTORY IN LEADING TEAMGB IN FRONT OF MILLIONS!

Trackspeed1 sprinter David Bolarinwa is to make history in Singapore as he leads TeamGB out in front of a multi-million worldwide TV audience, at the opening ceremony of the first ever Youth Olympic Games.


See our dedicated blog top left of the home page on this site for pictures and daily updates from the Far East...