TRACKSPEED1 BACK FROM STATESIDE PREP'

Trackspeed1 take time out for a quick photo-call before leaving
their warm weather training base in Florida.

Trackspeed1 athletes fly back to the UK this weekend after a month's pre-season training in the United States which, says coach John Powell, sees his squad return to home shores in great shape!  They have spent the last four weeks training at the ESPN Wide World of Sports, in Orlando, Florida.

Their first competition will, in most cases, be the Loughborough international on Sunday 22nd after a week's recovery work back at their Crystal Palace base.

"It's been a terrific trip this year," said John, speaking from their Florida base shortly before starting out on the return journey.  "The seniors who travelled out with us made the most of both the training opportunity and the competitions we went to.  We also this year had a number of younger guys here, who have really grown both as athletes and individuals.  Personal bests have been mixed in with some really promising times in training, and I honestly can't wait for the season to get going now."

It was certainly a huge opportunity for some of the younger athletes in Florida who, along with their senior counterparts, enjoyed the benefits of training alongside US coach Brooks Johnson's squad, including former Olympic and World Champion sprinter Justin Gatlin.

John Powell ives video feedback to former Olympic and World Gold medalist,
Justin Gatlin, at the ESPN track. 

All the athletes in Florida return with competition plans already discussed and documented with their coach , and highlights will centre on fixtures like the South of England Championships, the Bedford International Games, the European Under-20 and under-23 trials, subsequent European Championships, and then World Championship trials.

World number one under-18 over 100m last year, David Bolarinwa, will be among the favourites for selection for the European Junior Championships in Tallin, Estonia, in July, while Dwayne Grant, and James Ellington head the senior challenge.  In the under-23 age-group, Lawrence Wooldridge (200m) and Matt Threadgold (400m) could figure well in national finals.

RELAY RECORD SPARKS SERIOUS EARLY PROMISE

Trackspeed1 shattered their own squad 4x100m relay record in Florida yesterday (Thursday 5th May) with a blistering 40.12s performance - so impressive that only British national teams would have beaten it last year!

The quartet of Dwayne Grant, Jason Hussain, David Bolarinwa and James Ellington had far from perfect changes too, showing a sub-40-second performance was easily on the cards, as they cruised to victory at the University of Central Florida 'Golden Knights Twilight" meeting.

The squad's B-team of Omardo Anson (17), Lawrence Wooldridge (21), Ellis Zorro (18) and Josh Atille (16) were second across the line in a hugely impressive 42.50s.

James Ellington makes off on the home leg of the 
record-breaking 4x100m relay at UCF with third man 
David Bolarinwa handing over the baton.  The B-team 
with Lawrence Wooldridge homing in on Josh Atille 
are in hot pursuit.

The race sparked some outstanding performances individually too, making the squad's pre-season programme one of their most successful to date.  The leading performance was a wind-legal 100m sprint from James Ellington, who clocked a superb 10.42s in second place overall.

In the second heat 17-year-old David Bolarinwa served up an equally impressive 10.49s run, aided by a wind speed of +2.4s - just over the legal limit - but as the fourth fastest time of his life, it was the most encouraging sign possible for he and coach John Powell.

David Bolarinwa bursts through the 100m to his fourth
fastest ever time with Lawrence Wooldridge to his right.

"James didn't get the greatest of starts," said John, "and David wasn't the quickest over the early stages, but that's fine because that is normal for this stage of the year.  The speed is there - now we simply have to work on the detail to spice up potential lifetime bests later in the season."

The most impressive of the squad's other junior athletes was 17-year-old Omardo Anson, who improved his 11.31 100m 5 days earlier to 11.12 in winning his heat, and then went on to record a lifetime's best 22.34s over 200m - some half a second faster than ever before.

Omardo Anson (far right) on his way to the first of two sprint victories
at UCF, seen here in the 100m

"Omardo ran outstandingly well," said John, "and he really grew as an athlete today.  He's one of the most inexperienced athletes we have, but his speed of learning is frightening at the moment."

Lawrence Wooldridge was also very much on-song in the 200m, clocking the second-fastest time of his life with 21.54s, ahead of Jason Hussain who timed 21.88s.  This came after a fastest ever 100m where he took fourth in a rapid race, clocking 10.74s, albeit aided by the 2.4m/s breeze.

Omardo Anson (6) on his way to his fastest ever 200m, with Trackspeed1
athletes Ellis Zorro (4) and Josh Atille (3) to his left.

Full results are contained within the squad rankings lists displayed on this website (see link on right side of home page).

Lawrence Wooldridge (2) hit form in the 200m and is seen here 
storming to victory with Trackspeed1's Jason Hussain in second.

SPRINTERS RUB SHOULDERS WITH U.S. ELITE

Trackspeed1 sprinters trained with some of the elite in American sprinting talent today (Monday 2nd May), as they joined U.S.-based training advisor Brooks Johnson for a workout at ESPN Wide World of Sports track.


Seventeen-year-old David Bolarinwa found himself in the next lane to the fastest sprint hurdler in the world, David Oliver, while Dwayne Grant and James Ellington sandwiched European and Commonwealth Champion Andy Turner.  16-year-old Josh Atille was also awarded a lane in the session as reward for his dedication and hard work to date on their pre-season programme.

"We are hugely indebted to Brooks for letting us mix in with his world class squad of athletes," enthused Trackspeed1 coach John Powell.  "It's a huge opportunity and learning experience for many of our guys, and a priceless learning opportunity for me too,"

Some snaps of the training session held in the intense heat of the Florida sun, appear hereunder...

David Oliver (right), the fastest sprint hurdler in the world, with
David Bolarinwa, the fastest under-18 in the world, at ESPN Sports today

Josh Atille gets out in lane 2, with Trackspeed1's Dwayne Grant in 4,
James Ellington in 6, and David Bolarinwa in 8.

USA sprints guru Brooks Johnson briefs the Trackspeed1 quartet
before their workout.  The rules were simple - false start, and you
 run 400 metres; flase start twice, and you run 400 metres again!
Nobody false started!!

On their marks and set to go!  Josh Atille in lane 2, with Dwayne Grant
 in 5, James Ellington in 6, Andy Turner in 7, David Bolarinwa in 8,
and David Oliver in 9

David Bolarinwa ends his session with one final solo effort under the
watchful eye of UK coach Lloyd Cowan, who was in town as coach to
Andy Turner.

"SEASON'S OPENER IS OUR BEST YET"

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell described his squad's opening competition in the United States, where they are currently training, as "the best yet", as they returned from the annual Lake Brantley meeting.

Josh Atille (green vest) on his way to a heat-winning lifetime's fastest 200m at Lake Brantley on Saturday (30th April)

One lifetime best on day one of what will be a season packed with action, combined with the fastest ever starts for most.  Leading the way was the youngest member of the group, 16-year-old Josh Atille, who cracked his fastest ever 200m with a 22.74s run to win his heat.

His performance earned praise from coach and fellow athletes alike, after the first two weeks of their pre-season training has seen him transform from a club level competitor to a highly disciplined and focussed young athlete.

In the senior races, Jason Hussain was beaten by James Ellington, who broke his own meeting record with a strong 21.21s performance, which could have been even faster had he been pushed in the latter stages of the race.  Hussain timed one of his fastest ever outdoor 200's with 21.46s.  Lawrence Wooldridge was third in the same race with 21.94s.

James Ellington (lane 6) leads the field on his way to a new meeting
record in the 200m, with Jason Hussain in hot pursuit outside him in lane 8

"These performances were even better than they may look at first," said John, "because this meeting has no timetable and it is impossible to guess when exactly to warm up.  We were stuck in 90-plus degree heat with no shelter, and as in previous years had alot of hanging around to do with dozens of younger races being set off beforehand.  The heat was really draining on everyone."

Earlier in the day, Dwayne Grant pulled himself together to produce his fastest opener for a few years, despite suffering from a heavy cold.  His 10.54s was impressive, and won the meeting overall, with David Bolarinwa winning his heat with the second fastest time of the day of 10.69s.

In other races, Omardo Anson ran creditably to produce an 11.31s 100m, and Ellie Doel completed her 200m in 27.25s.  Winds on the day were measured at virtually zero for every race.  Details can be found on the squad rankings page of this website.

Trackspeed1 now have a brief return to training before their second competition of the trip, at the University of Central Florida, on Thursday.  And for Josh Atille, that will mean an incredible experience of training out of blocks with leading US sprints guru, Brooks Johnson, and his world class squad of athletes.

"Brooks is a great friend of this squad," said John Powell, " and we always have a couple of athletes do a session or two with his group.  It's a great learning experience for athletes as well as coach.  Not many British sprinters can say that they have trained alongside the likes of Xavier Carter, Justin Gatlin, and David Oliver!"

TS1 READY FOR SEASON OPENER

Things are going so well at the squad's pre-season training base in Florida, coach John Powell can barely dare look ahead to his squad's opening competition this Saturday.

"Training times are rarely reproduced in competition," he said, "but if you compare them with how people were running a year ago, we have a group of athletes here who are heading toward a potentially great summer season."

The one low point for the group was this morning (Tuesday 26th) when England Schools international, Edmond Amaning, pulled up with a hamstring strain for the third time in ten weeks, but the remainder are very positive.

Their opening competition is at the Florida Gliders' Spring Classic, at Lake Brantley High School track, north of Orlando, on Saturday.  The squad entry for this meeting is as follows:

100m

Dwayne Grant            

(L-R): Ellis Zorro, Omardo Anson and Josh Atille in training
at the ESPN facility, in Orlando, Florida

David Bolarinwa           

Edmond Amaning (Withdrawn)         

Omardo Anson            

200m

Jason Hussain             

James Ellington           

Dwayne Grant             

Ellis Zorro                   

Edmond Amaning (Withdrawn)       

Matthew Threadgold    

Joshua Atille                

Lawrence Wooldridge   

Ellie Doel                     

The squad may also enter two 4x100m relay teams and possibly a 4x400m quartet.

Trackspeed1 have a full programme from the Brantley meeting on.  They return to training straight away the day after, and have sessions on the Monday and Tuesday as well, before a recovery day prior to their next competition.

On Thursday May 5th, everyone will travel north east of Orlando to the University of Central Florida and compete in their annual Twilight meeting, hoping that this year it does not get cancelled due to electrical storms as was the case last year.Then its training for their final eight days in the States before returning to home shores and the season proper.

David Bolarinwa, 17, the fastest under-18 in the world last year, is 
recapturing his form in theStates after a hamstring problem interrupted 
his winter preparations.

TRACKSPEED1 SET TO IMPRESS

Trackspeed1 are spending a month in Florida, USA, training at the
impressive ESPN complex.

Trackspeed1 have taken 11 athletes some four thousand or so miles south west to the luxury town of Orlando, Florida, where their four-week training camp is already seeing some massive lifetime best marks being set in training.

The group ranges from 16-year-old Josh Atille, to 28-year-old Dwayne Grant, and  none of those in between are dragging their feet now they have hit the sun!

Their winter training had been close to a nightmare at times with the British  weather confining the group to the indoor straight at Crystal Palace, but as the cold snap passed, performances improved, and now coach John Powell is hoping this is the start of things to come this summer:

"There isn't an athlete out here who is under-performing," he said, " and whilst I wouldn't put pressure on individuals by predicting their future at this stage, I really couldn't be asking for alot more so far.

"In training rep's on the track we have had PB's al over the place and, although it's my hand timing, and way short of official, it's all leading to a really upbeat trip this time round."

The group open their competitive season on Saturday April 30th when they compete at the Florida Gliders Spring Classic meeting at the Lake Brantley High School facility, in Orlando, and then move on to the University of Central Florida meeting on Thursday 5th May.

"Opening marks are always interesting," said John, "but they rarely represent what an athlete is really going to produce at his or her peak later in the summer.  IT's good feedback for me though, and we are really looking forward to getting off the mark now."

The athletes training in Florida are: James Ellington, Joshua Atille, Ellis Zorro, Ellie Doel, Dwayne Grant, Jason Hussain, David Bolarinwa, Edmond Amaning, Omardo Anson, Matthew Threadgold, and Lawrence Wooldridge, with therapist Greg' Funnell.

POWELL HIITS 35 !

Today (April 16th) marks the 35th anniversary of Trackspeed1 coach John Powell taking his first coaching exam at the very venue he has coached at for every one of those three and a half decades - Crystal Palace!

Aged 17, John was verbally examined by Linford Christie's coach, Ron Roddan for his then 'Assistant Club Coach' badge, blissfully unaware at the time what a massive  impact on his life - and that of countless aspiring athletes - his role as a coach would have.

Since that auspicious day in 1976, many names have passed through his hands, or have been recruited to the sport during his time as one of the most successful youth team managers in the country with Blackheath and later on Belgrave Harriers.  Joice Maduaka, Phillips Idowu and Chris Lambert will be the better known names of recent years, but the number of athletes graduating from club to international level through his Trackspeed1 squad - so named only a few years ago - exceed all but the most senior coaches in the UK.

"I simply can't imagine life not being a coach," said John, who is a Police Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, "and I reckon I'll be doing even more of it later this year.  To say time flies is a cliché, but it really does, and after 30 years in the Police this year, I can retire on a full pension.  My athletes won't know what's hit them when I get all that free time!"

John's CV as a coach is attached to this website, and it is clear that is efforts have not been restricted to these shores.  His link with Harvard University through graduate athlete Chris Lambert were cemented with an appointment to their casual coaching staff, and his links and partnerships with individuals and groups all over the globe have made Trackspeed1 a brand unto itself.

"It's no secret that it has been a very sore point when it comes to athletes moving on," said John.  "I've never really learned to take those sort of knocks on the chin, and I still get riled when it's clear that outside forces have been at work.  Athletes here get a seriously good deal, but the grass is so often made to appear greener.  But very few sprinters have ever improved after leaving, which surely counts for something.  That's why I hold such respect for athletes like James Ellington, who moved to another coach, but was big enough to admit it wasn't working, and come back.  And now he's setting PB's again!

"The job satisfaction from coaching is unique, and it's incredibly addictive.  But coaches in track and field are hugely under-rated - few people outside the sport see the trials and tribulations we have to suffer for the sake of success."

A production company are shadowing John and his squad this year with a view to producing a documentary film on what lies behind success on the track.  Supported by Adidas, it promises to link his Policing role, the Met-Track scheme he founded in 2005, and a number of the athletes in his squad.  Set against the background of London as the Olympic city in 2012, it will graphically illustrate just how tough it is to reach the top.

GOODBYE CRUEL WINTER

It's been a winter many Trackspeed1 athletes will want to be forgetting as the warmer temperatures at last hit home shores. 

Hamstring injuries have been a huge problem for coach John Powell's charges - so much so that he is looking to review his entire programme at the end of the year with other coaches and advisors both at home and abroad.

"I can't believe how many athletes have had hamstring issues this winter," he said, "but I have to say that in most cases, I am completely satisfied that a lack of strength and conditioning on the part of the athlete - and/or careless management of recovery periods during training - are the main root causes.

"We had quite a few younger athletes join what was essentially a senior group last summer, and unfortunately they have chosen to learn their trade at this far higher level the hard way - despite many warnings from me.  But we're pretty much good to go now - summer beckons, and those athletes going warm wather training are gearing up for a great trip."

About half the squad travel to Florida for a mnth's pre-season preparation on Sunday (April 17th) where they will use the ESPN Wide World of Sport facilities that outstrip the comparatively miserable surroundings they have had to tolerate during the winter.  Tjose athletes not travellling will be hoping for some scceptable UK weather after a winter nightmare that saw the entire squad programme suspended for a week atone stage.

Trackspeed1 athletes train in Florida last year: they will compete in 2
meetings while there, and field a squad relay team who will target 
the hugely impressive 40.69s mark set four years ago!

"This was the worst winter I can remember in a long time," said john, "with snow in November preventing me or the group even getting to Crystal palace, and consistently freezing temperatures making runs in trainng further than 80 metres indoors virtually impossible.

"We've missed out on a bit of speed endurance as a result, but I have to say everyone has knuckled down well this last few weeks, put plenty of fuel in the tank, and we are beginning to look in reasonable shape for summer.  These next four weeks will be hugely defining, and anyone not working seriously hard will be left very disappointed when the majors come round this season."

Trackspeed1's final full get-together in the UK will be on Saturday April 16th - fittingly exactly 35 years to the day aince John took his first ever coaching exam with Linford Christie's coach Ron Roddan - on the very track they will train on that day - at Crystal Palace!

SO NEAR YET SO FAR FOR PLUCKY JAMES

James Ellington could have come no closer to his first ever Grand Prix final on Saturday (19th) as he crossed the line one hundredth of a second behind third-placed Craig Pickering in his heat.

James clocked 6.72 seconds - one of his fastest ever 60m sprints, although it was inferior to his lifetime best set just seven days earlier of 6.69s.

It was a heat packed with drama with the front three automatically through to the final, and a desperate Pickering throwing himself at the line to edge out his rival.  And behind them was the fast-fading Mark Lewis-Francis who pulled up short with what looked like quite a nasty groin injury.

James Ellington (nearside) misses out on the Grand
Prix 60m final by one hundredth of a second,
 in Birmingham, as captured by photo-finish
technology.

"Craig rotated his right shoulder and that is the only reason he got the nod," said coach John Powell.  "It's ironic because James has been under strict orders never to twist round on the line, as that was a major contributor to his serious hamstring tear last June."

Ellington now returns to winter training after a few days of low key recovery work, having completed what many coaches have described as a miraculous comeback from his injury in Geneva last year.

Meanwhile, another Trackspeed1 sprinter, Matt Threadgold, was competing in the British University Championships, in Sheffield.  He was rounding off what had already been an outstandingly successful indoor season for him, with lifetime best times over 60m, 200m and his specialist distance of 400m.

In Sheffield he drew a nightmare lane two in the heats, and it looked as if it might be all over before it began, but incredibly he won the race in 22.47s to reach the semi-final.

In the semi, he drew lane four, and improved to 22.29s, but failed to qualify for the final in second place after a poor first bend left him too much to do.

Matt was far from done though, and subsequently put in an outstanding relay leg in the 4 x 200m final, taking Loughborough University to gold with an astonishing split time recorded as 20.1 seconds.  

ELLINGTON CHASES THE BIG PRIZE!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington is having one last go at chasing the big prize of another indoor 60 metres persoal best today (Saturday 19th).

James becomes the first ever Trackspeed1 athlete to take part in an indoor Grand Prix. He contests the 60m alongside Britain's best sprinting talent as well as some of the leading sprinters from around the world.

Ellington recorded his fastes time to date at Shefield last weekend during the UK Championships - 6.69 seconds.