POWELL'S FAMILY TO GROW BY ONE!!

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was all smiles this week as he announced that he is to become a father again early in 2012!

"It's very early days indeed at the moment," he said, "but my wife and I were always comfortable with letting the news out as soon as we knew.  We've had loads of good wishes from people which is terrific.  2012 is going to be an even bigger year than we thought!  Suffice to say, I am absolutley ecstatic at the news, as is my wife."

TRACKSPEED1-2 IS SPOT-ON !

It simply doesn't get any better at this stage of the season - a squad one-two, in the showpiece race of the meeting at the Bedford International Games on Sunday!


James Ellington - aching for races at world class level, but currently having to settle for domestic bliss with a zero budget - was in a class of his own ahead of current and past internationals in the race of the day.  He clocked 10.41 seconds in dreadful conditions, pulling training companion David Bolarinwa (still only 17) into second behind him.

It was a class run - there is nothing else that can be said.  He beat everyone, and even afforded the luxury of shutting down well short of the finish line.  James is the interloper this year - a real inconvenience to those already ear-marked for World Championship selection, but he is now making it consistently clear that selection for the sprints in the World Championships in Korea in August, will be anything but straight forward this year!

David Bolarinwa - by far the country's best junior sprinter in years, and already being labelled the next Mark Lewis-Francis - was second behind his training partner, clocking 10.52s in the rain.  He now travels to a European meeting in Bilbao, Spain on Saturday, confident that there is at the very least a 10.2(lows) ion the tank over 100m.

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell is usually pretty reserved after races, but was screaming after the Bedford showpiece.  It wasn't the World final, but he knew a one-two at this level was some achievement:

"I was again impressed with James, but he's got to produce a real time in good conditions.  The weather in the UK is so frustrating, it's unbelievable.  But it will come.  Everyone can see the sort of form he'd in, and he will produce something very special in the very near future.

"David is obviously on terrific form, but again he needs to remain very focussed and realise the real challenge of the year will be in the trials for the European Junior Championships in 2 weeks' time, and then of course in the European Championships themselves.

"The one-two though was absolutely terrific, although we now have to search for a race for James after he comes back from the European Team Championships this weekend.  He's in the GB relay team, and has been banned from running as an individual because they want a world top 16 time to quaify for the World Championships.  I understand that, but James needs races, and now we have to look for something a week later.  It's a challenge because, without funding, flights and travel are a huge problem for him."

The Bedford fixture - held in the cold and pouring wet conditions that created the nightmare for most, let alone the headwinds in the sprints straight, also saw Trackspeed1's Jason Hussain produce a very positive 200m performance.  He finished second in his race but had to settle for a very modest 22.22s, with training partner Lawrence Wooldridge a shade behind in 22.23s.

In another 200m race, 17-year-old Edmond Amaning produced an outstanding 22.30 run - his opening race of the season after no fewer than three hamstring injuries in quick succession over the past 3 months,.

John  Powell commented: "These were great performances on the conditions, and Edmond was far better than he thought immediately after the race.  Lawrence especially should have been heading back south full of confidence."

Now John will fly to Bilbao with David Bolarinwa this weekend, while the rest of the squad contest the South of England Championships, at Ashford, Kent.

"It's a joke having the Southern Championships in Ashford,", said Powell.  "Apart form the geography, the conditions there are always poor for sprinters, and there are many more far better options than deepest Kent.  But hey, why should the athletes ever matter!"

This weekend also saw the London Schools Championships staged at Battersea Park.  Anton Daley took second in the intermediate Boys 100m with a lifetime best 11.1s - pretty impressive given he suffered a cramp twice on the way up the straight!  All first 3 finishers were recorded at 11.1s.

ELLINGTON'S BATTLE CRY

Trackspeed1's reborn world class sprinter James Elliington cannot wait to face the best the planet has to offer!  Competing for Great Britain in Regensburg, Germany today, he clocked 10.39s and 10.40s, winning both heat and final in the Sparkassen Gala.  Only thing was - both were into a -1.8 and then -3.1m/s headwind!


They were two hugely impressive performances which had the British team management watching in awe as he demolished an international field.  The headwinds obviously prevented any spectacular times, but gave the clearest indication yet that James is ready to deliver something very special indeed given the right conditions.


Ellington next goes into action alongside several of his Trackspeed1 training comrades, on the brand new Mondo surface at Bedford, on Sunday (12thJune).  The Bedford International Games will provide the next potential forum for the 25-year-old South Londoner to prove that he really has broken through into the ranks of world class athletics this year.


Included in the Bedford line-up will be 24-year-old Jason Hussain, who roared to two of the fastest sprints of his life on Saturday.


While Ellington was undergoing the German experience, Hussain was a little nearer home in Barnet, North London, competing in the British League's opening fixture.  He clocked a lifetime's fastest 10.65s in the 100m, but could not record it as a personal best due to the tail wind of +2.6m/s.


The story was the same in the 200m where, despite drawn in lane 8, Jason clocked the second fastest time of his life of 21.33s, but this was again struck from the record books due to the following 2.4m/s tail wind.


"Jason is slowly but surely improving this season towards the form of his life," said coach John Powell.  "He had a bit of a hic-cup in training during May, but he has picked up again now, and I would fully expect him to record lifetime bests in both sprints in the very near future."


Looking ahead to the Bedford fixture on Sunday, Powell was extremely upbeat:  "We've had a few injury issues this year, but this Sunday represents the first major domestic fixture of the season, and all of our seniors plus a couple of juniors will be there.  The fields could be stunning if everyone shows up, so it's game-on, and alot of our guys are in good shape now."

TRACKSPEED TRIO IMPRESS IN AUSTRIA

Trackspeed1’s party who flew to the Liese Prokop Memorial meeting, in St Polten, Austria yesterday (June 2^nd) may have been a little depleted, but that did not prevent further progress into the 2011 summer season.

David Bolarinwa (17) again impressed with three significant performances which converted to at least as good – if not better – than his lifetime best marks recorded at Bedford for days earlier.

In the 100m heats he recorded 10.42s to win ahead of 10.1 man Ryan Moseley, the Austrian number one senior.  Although slower than his lifetime best of 10.29 at Bedford, it was run into a headwind of -1.8m/s.

David Bolarinwa (right) out-dips Austrian number one 
Ryan Moseley in the 100m in St Polten.

In the final, he was confronted with Moseley again, determined to exact revenge in front of the home crowd, and the talented Commonwealth Games semi-finalist Adrian Griffth (Bahamas), who romped home to win in 10.28.

David clocked another 10.42 into another headwind of -1.2m/s, while Moseley pipped him for second this time, with a slightly superior 10.36s.

“Both efforts convert to a shade faster than his best performances on Sunday,” explained coach John Powell, “so I am more than satisfied.  David is a huge competitor, and although he knows there are areas of his race that need improvement, you can never fault him for effort on any outing.”

David later took part in his first 200m of the season, and recorded 21.35 in second place behind Matthew Mathiau (Bahamas) athlete, who clocked 20.90 into a -1.8m/s headwind - not a bad comparison with an athlete who has run 20.3 in the past and who reached the Olympic Games semi finals in Beijing. 

Matt Threadgold should have been well into his season by this stage, but for a hamstring injury, compounded by a groin problem over the last month.  He was therefore opening up his 2011 campaign, and succeeded with a second-placed 48.94s 400m effort.  With a best of 48.5, this was a more than encouraging performance.

In the 200m races at the end of the meeting, Lawrence Wooldridge added a 21.81s run to his two earlier 100m efforts of 11.08s and 11.00s, both into headwinds, while Threadgold suddenly discovered the penalties of fatigue after early-season 400s, managing only 22.51s in his race, albeit into another headwind.

This weekend, some Trackspeed1 athletes will compete in league competition for their cllubs before the meaty part of the summer kicks in with the Bedford International Games on June 12^th.  James Ellington, however, is representing Great Britain in an international meeting in Germany, on Saturday (June 4^th).

DAVID SOUNDS A BATTLE CRY TO EUROPE

David Bolarinwa showed the rest of Europe he means business this year as he blasted to the fastest 100m time by a junior European in 2011.

David Bolarinwa became the fastest under-20 in Europe
this year, at Bedford on Sunday (29th May)

 His 10.29s sprint in the Inter-Counties Championship final was the tenth fastest by any British Junior ever, and made the clearest statement yet that he is a contender for European honours in Tallin, Estonia, in July.

It was nothing short of a sensational day for the 17-year-old from Thamesmead, South East London, with lifetime best performances in every round.  He opened up with a 10.38s effort in the heats, aided by the slightest wind of +0.2m/s.

In the semi-final he improved to a fastest ever 10.30, although that won’t go into the record books as the wind gauge failed.  His final time though impressed, and the only down side was the disqualification of senior,  Deji Tobias, whose early round performances suggested a thrilling finale, but that was not to be after he false started.

A delighted coach John Powell was full of praise for his 17-year-old:  “David executed each race well, even though his blocks slipped in the semi-final.  And the wonder of these performances is that he will go yet faster – it’s still only May, and the major stuff doesn’t arrive until late June and into July.”

Running equally well when compared with his lifetime best performances, was Trackspeed1’s Jason Hussain.  He clocked a fastest ever 10.77s in the heat, and went even faster in the semi-final with 10.74s, although that was slightly wind-assisted.

The surprise package for Jason though, was when he learned that he had edged into the inter-counties final by thousandths’ of  second in a blanket finish.  He went on to finish fifth behind Bolarinwa’s super run, clocking another 10.77s mark.

Day two of the championships, held on Bedford’s brand new Mondo track, takes place tomorrow (May 30^th) and features the 200m.  Hussain goes again, representing Sussex, and Lawrence Wooldridge starts for Kent.

David Bolarinwa in training at Crystal Palace with the high-tech
electronic timer beams that analyse acceleration rates out of blocks -
supplied this time courtesy of Trackspeed1's association with Lucozade.

ELLINGTON'S SCORCHER SETS SEASON ABLAZE!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington went from international to world class as he soared to a blistering 10.12 second 100 metre sprint in the Loughborough University International meeting today (Sunday 22nd).

James Ellington (right in red and white of England) finishes
2 hundredths of a second behind Harry Aikines Aryeetey,
 at Loughborough, in a world class 10.12 seconds

It was a performance of sheer class that took the 25-year-old Newham and Essex Beagles ace into the realms of the elite in one classy burst of action, despite a little bit of help from a 3.4m/s following wind.  His previous fastest ever over the distance in a career that has already spanned 12 years, was 10.23s, set in Geneva last year, when he tore a hamstring which nearly ended his career.

The Loughborough race marked the completion of an outstanding comeback from that desperate day when the future had looked so bleak.  Now, James can potentially look forward to his best ever season, although coach John Powell was quick to add words of caution:

"It was a fantastic performance by James," he said, "and a massive breakthrough mentally as much as anything else.  But it's early days and we can't get carried away, even though it was pretty tempting to scream from the rooftops when I heard his time!"

Ellington was beaten in the race by former World Junior Champion Harry Aikines Aryeetey, who edged home in front in 10.10s, although James was annoyed he didn't take the race himself:

"I tightened up over the last 10 metres when all I had to do was keep running, and I would have beaten him," he said, "but that's fine - I know now the sort of form I'm in - the best of my life - and this has been a great confidence booster."

Ellington, representing the England national team, was drawn in lane five right next-door to junior training partner David Bolarinwa, who was representing British Juniors.  David, the fastest under-18 in the world last year over the distance, also ran the fastest time of his life thanks to the following wind, timing 10.32s.

"It was a strange environment for David," said John Powell, "because he's used to being in front or more or less in front as a junior.  But here he had the unique experience of coping with international level seniors, and he dealt with it really well, although his blocks need some work still."

Ellington's run took him across the line ahead of top sprints names including Marlon Devonish and Craig Pickering, with Bolarinwa fifth in the same race.

The 200m races were not quite as kind to Trackspeed1 athletes, although Jason Hussain bettered his season's best time by a hundredth of a second with a 21.45s effort from lane eight, while Lawrence Wooldridge slipped to a disappointing 21.81s in his race.

"It's still early days," said John Powell, "and inconsistent performances are not uncommon.  It's just important that, if you don't perform as well as you hoped, you take the positives from the race, and then put it away and move on.  The squad is in great shape this year, and I know there are going to be alot more terrific breakthroughs."

In separate league matches, Powell's words were already coming true, as Kieran Daley and Jack Miller both posted lifetime best performances in the 200m.

TRACKSPEED 5 READY FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION!

Trackspeed1 have five athletes competing at the Loughborough international meeting to be held at the university's track tomorrow (Sunday 22nd May).

James Ellington (centre) leads the way in his first 2011 outing inthe UI.S.
last month, with Jason Hussain (outside left) and Lawrence EWooldridge
(black vest right) in pursuit

The annual curtain-raiser to the domestic season sees James Ellington selected to represent the England national side, while 17-year-old David Bolarinwa takes the single berth in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Junior team.  Both will contest the 100m and sprint relay.

Elsewhere, lanes have been awarded to Dwayne Grant who is entered for both the 100m and 200m, while both Lawrence Wooldridge and Jason Hussain go in the 200m.

It will be an interesting battle between the latter two.  Jason set one of his fastest ever 200m marks in the U.S. recently of 21.46, and Lawrence came within an inch of his best with a 21.54 run in a second meeting, which saw Jason beaten in the same race.

Elsewhere the squad's younger athletes are due to compete for their clubs in various local league matches, but coach John Powell was quick to warn that it's still very early days:

"The majority of the group are in terrific shape, which is great given the winter we have had, but nobody should be thinking about peaking yet.  Nothing we have done has been intended to p[roduce the ultimate best [out of people until later in the season.

"Unless you are aiming for the World Championships, in Korea in August/September, it's a short season of barely 12-14 weeks, so it's important that we produce top performances at the right time, and this group have a history of doing just that, so we'll see!"

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.