ELLINGTON GOES STRAIGHT WHILE TS1 GO ROUND THE BEND!

Jaysuma Ndure is the fourth fastest man of all time in Europe with a best of 19.89, and third-fastest over 100m with 9.99s, yet Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington took him to within the thickness of his vest in a special 200 metres race, in Manchester City Centre, on Sunday.

James Ellington shone over 200m against
world class opposition on Sunday.

Competing in the somewhat unique Manchester City Games event, the two lined up for a 200m set on a completely straight track set up in the streets of the Lancastrian capital.  The Gambian-born Norwegian won in 20.63 seconds, but James clocked 20.65s to impress in front of a packed crowd and national television cameras.

The event held on a completely straight track arguably provides less of a challenge to the normal format of bend into straight, but as coach John Powell explained, the straight has a far from positive psychological effect:

"It looks like a marathon when you are staring down the straight at the start," he said, "and it's terribly difficult to judge .  James executed the race brilliantly despite being up against world class opposition, and I am personally delighted with his performance.

"What the TV commentators didn't know on Sunday is that a week ago, James was flat out with a nasty flue bug that seems to have hit at least four of my squad, including David Bolarinwa and Ed Harrison.  A virus like that can take alot out of you, and in training on Thursday he was clearly not fully recovered, so Sunday's run was fantastic."

The event over-shadowed the annual Loughborough University International meeting on the same day where John and other members of his squad spent the day in just as cold conditions as were facing the athletes in Manchester.  This said, Trackspeed1 continued to underline individual potential for 2012 summer.

Top performer was arguably David Bolarinwa, who notched a creditable 10.49s run despite farcicle circumstances surrounding the start.  Tremayne Gilling, drawn in lane two, committed a clear false start and was into his first stride before the gun had fired, leaving Bolarinwa in lane one thinking he had suffered the worst reaction of his life!

To the fury of John Powell and many others, the race was allowed to go on without recall, although both eventual winner Adam Gemilli and David hauled Gilling back to finish ahead of him - just!

"It was a ridiculous false start, and the more I played it back on the camera afterwards, the more people laughed at it," said John who recorded the whole event.  "It's a pity that sort of thing is allowed to happen, because it detracts from other people's performances.  Simeon Williamson finished fourth in 10.70s, and nobody can tell me that is reflective of his ability!"

David Bolarinwa was left to cope with a farcical false start at
Loughborough - pictured here last year after his European Junior 200m
Championship win, in Estonia.

The Trackspeed1 'dark horse' of the 2012 season who had PB's notched in every outing so far this year, wasn't quite able to continue that record, although it was almost certainly the 2.0m/s headwind that prevented it.  Edmond Amaning clocked his second fastest ever 200m of 21.50s in winning one of the men's invitation races - albeit running the traditional bend rather than the Manchester straight!

Bolarinwa, unlike training partner Ellington, clearly wasn't over the flu bug when the longer sprint kicked in, and he faded badly to 21.4s in the 200m finishing a disappointing fourth behind Chris Clarke, Deji Tobias and Luke Fagan.

"David will be fine after a couple of track sessions and a gym workout this week," said Powell, who takes Bolarinwa, Ellington, and Amaning through the Channel Tunnel on Saturday to a European International in Oordegem, Belgium on what is reportedly that country's fastest Mondo track.

"We went to Belgium last week as well," said John, "but the conditions were poor and there were no fast times in the entire meeting, so we are looking for far better this time round."

HUSSAIN STRIKES DOUBLE GOLD AS PB's FALL AGAIN!

Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain struck gold - twice - at the Sussex County Championships over the weekend, running the fastest 200m of his illustrious career into the bargain!

Jason proudly displays gold medal number one after his sensational 200m in the Sussex 
Championships, at the K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley

The 25-year-old Crawley AC Athlete of the Year for 2011 entered the 200m final on Saturday afternoon alongside former training pal Wade Bennett-Jackson and British Junior International multi-eventer Seb Roger.

It was a hard-fought battle that Hussain won, but not after an early fright that saw Bennett-Jackson fly out of the blocks and tear round the bend!  Hussain's trademark surge in the second half of the race pulled him clear at the line though, recording a lifetime's fastest 21.2 seconds.  It won't enter the official record books though, as it was both hand timed and assisted by a 3.2m/s tail wind.

Undeterred, Hussain - the London indoor Champion for 2012 - moved on to the 100m on Sunday, and duly struck gold a second time with an 11.1 run into a -0.8m/s head wind.  They were two performances which led another superb weekend for Trackspeed1.

In the Kent County Championships, Omardo Anson equalled his lifetime best 200m despite being drawn in lane one in the final.  And he was rewarded with his first ever medal in athletics - silver - although better was to come 24 hours later.

Omardo Anson struck gold and silver at the Kent County Championships

Coping with the traditionally unpredictable and changeable conditions at the Ashford Julie Rose Stadium, Omardo, from Abbey Wood, charged to gold in the 100m recording an albeit modest 11.49s, but when considering a significant head wind, it was a highly respectable effort.

"Omardo emerged into track and field from Met-Track a couple of years ago,"explained coach John Powell, "and he was no star, but he has progressed and matured amazingly since.  He spent much of last year recuperating from a badly torn hamstring, so you could say this is his first ever proper season, and those two medals will never be more deserved, I am delighted for him."

Meanwhile, Trackspeed1 training partner Edmond Amaning was further improving his fastest ever 200m, making it three out of three so far this season.  Competing in the Middlesex Junior Championships at Mile End, he clocked 21.54 in the heat, and then 21.41 (wind +0.9m/s) to win the under-20 final.

"Edmond is a potentially very special talent," commented John Powell.  "He has a long way to go before he gets close to his real best, but clipping fractions off his best at every outing is a great way to go into early season.  I've said he could be a dark horse this year, and so far he has underlined that."

With a trip to Belgium mid-week for the European Permit meeting in Namur on Wednesday, and the Loughborough International on Sunday, it's all systems 'go' for Trackspeed1 in the biggest season for track and field in the UK ever!

"We've never had a start to a season like this," said John, "and I simply cannot wait for the next few weeks to play out - we could be heading for something very special indeed this year."

The squad's progress may stall slightly though - James Ellington was suffering from flu at the weekend, a European Junior 200m Champion David Bolarinwa has only just got over a nasty fever.  Conversely, injury-dogged Andrew Matthews is looking to put the last few troubled weeks behind him with a niggle-free 100m the other side of the English Channel on Wednesday.

Ed Harrison joins his sprinter companions in Belgium on Wednesday
when he hopes to improve his opening 400m hurdles of the season
(52.70s), set in Gainsville, USA, last month.

OUR OLYMPIC STADIUM ONE-TWO!

Our famous squad one-two in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday night as James Ellington set the stadium record for the Olympic Games, with training partner David Bolarinwa on his shoulder in second...

ELLINGTON KICKS OFF IN DREAMLAND!

JAMES ELLINGTON will be the holder of the Olympic Stadium 100m record when the Olympic Games kick off in July.  He won the UK Athletics 100m showpiece on the track that Usain Bolt has already declared he will break world records on later this year.

James Ellington salutes a 40,000 crowd as he crosses the line first
ahead of second-placed training partner David Bolarinwa
in the Olympic Stadium today.

The special race was staged at the climax of day two of the British Universities Championships, held in the Olymic Stadium as a test event for the games proper.  Ellington clocked 10.30s to set a season's best, but for his Trackspeed1 training squad there was better news to come.

Finishing strongly in second place came training partner David Bolarinwa, making it a sensational one-two for the Crystal Palace-based training group, which produced a smile a mile wide on the face of coach John Powell.

Trackspeed1 coach said he went into dreamland when the result went up
confirming his athletes James Ellington (left) and David Bolarinwa (right)
finished one and two in the first ever event in the Olympic
Stadium earlier today

"That was dreamland," he said, "two of my athletes finishing first and second in the Olympic Stadium in a race of that level?  I had to pinch myself to make sure I hadn't nodded off when I saw the scoreboard confirm it!  And it was way faster than the championship final, so the stadium record will stand until the Olympics.  Wow - that is quite something to tell your kids when they grow up isn't it!

"We're not getting carried away though.  It was a great confidence booster for both athletes, but there is still alot of work to be done, and improvements made, but we are in a pretty nice place right now."

James Ellington runs again in the Olympic Stadium tomorrow (Sunday 6th) when he contests the UK Athletics invitation 200 metres.  He already has the Olympic qualifying time of 20.59s in the event in which he represented Great Britain in the World Championships last year, but will be looking to re-assert his grip on the event nationally in 2012 as the Olympic trials approach in June.

David Bolarinwa (left) and James Ellington warm up for their
100m n the Olympic Stadium earlier today

James Ellington (arms outstretched) and David Bolarinwa
(on his left) line up for the 100m start in the Olympic stadium

MIXED FORTUNES IN BRANTLEY SAUNA

Trackspeed1 sprinters continued their pre-season competition programme on Saturday (28th), at the Florida Gliders Spring Classic Meet, at Lake Brantley High School, Orlando.


After a scintillating start to their season a week earlier in Gainsville, coach John Powell was looking forward to some more good performances, but plans were undone by a meeting peppered with long delays amid scorching conditions.

In the 100m athletes were called into the competition zone some 40 minutes before they got to run and, in the case of the 200m, were made to wait on the track over 20 minutes before they got to compete.

"We were very disappointed with this year's meeting," said John after his group's nine hour stay at an arena with next to no shelter from the Florida sun.  "We were given a time for the 100m to start with everything else a 'rolling schedule' through five age-groups for each event, but even that ended 40 minutes out.

"The meeting had so many delays it wasn't until after 6pm that our guys got to run the 200m (the 100m was at 11.30), and even then only after the starter went off to get a drink leaving them stranded on the track for upwards of 20 minutes!  It's a great meeting for the younger ages, but not for elite athletes."

Despite all, there were still personal bests set by squad members, and those that didn't hit new times, weren't far off.

"The fact that, in these conditions, we hit so many PB's or almost-PB's," said John, "shows just what sort of shape the group are in this year."

Leading the pack was Edmond Amaning who sliced a further two tenths off his best to record 21.57 in the 200m despite easing short of the line.  Then Ed Harrison, more accustomed to 400m hurdling, set a lifetime fastest of 21.71s - not bad as he'd already cracked his 100m best some hours earlier with a fine 10.79 sprint!

Omardo Anson clocked 22.41s which was a fraction outside his best, but that was after setting a personal best 100m time earlier of 11.07s.  Melvyn Anukam clocked a personal best 11.20s in the 100m, and came close to his 200m best with 22.52s.  None of the times had wind speeds either against or following of any significance.

Youngest member of the group, 15-year-old Phillip Robinson also got among the personal bests with a lifetime's fastest 11.35s in the 100m, and a 23.47s 200m which was just outside the best mark he set at Gainesville a week earlier.

"We've got some very tired athletes at the end of this trip after that meeting," said John, "but they have now proved twice that they are in the shape of their lives and, after a few days recovery, will be ready to roll back in the UK."

Trackspeed1 arrive back in the UK on Tuesday morning (1st May)

NEXT STOP LAKE BRANTLEY

Trackspeed1 sprinters continue their early season competitive programme with a trip to Lake Brantley High School on Saturday.


Their annual participation in what will be the 20th Florida Gliders Classic will see coach John Powell looking for his troops to continue where they left off at Gainsville a week earlier.

The Central Florida meet saw TS1 men achieve the best opening day ever, and the news from Stateside is that everyone is fighting fit for Saturday, including crocks from last week Melvyn Anukam and Andrew Matthews.

"We're looking forward to it," said John, "and just as long as people manage the inevitable heat there, we should see some more great performances."

Trackspeed1 round off their trip with a final recovery session on Sunday before flying home Monday night.

Trackspeed1 pose for the camera before another training session in
Orlando.  Rear L-R: David Bolarinwa, Ed Harrison, James Ellington,
Jason Hussain, John Allen (physio'), and front L-R: Edmond Amaning,
Omardo Anson, Andrew Matthews, Phillip Robinson, Melvyn Anukam

TRACKSPEED1 OPENER THE BEST - EVER!

Trackspeed1 sprinters opened their 2012 account in Gainsville, USA, yesterday (Saturday 21st) and produced the best set of results ever achieved by the squad on the opening day of any summer campaign.

Trackspeed1's Olympic hopeful James Ellington gets some last minute
therapy from 2012 TeamGB physio' , John Allen, who is working
with the squad in the States

Lifetime best marks went tumbling as John Powell's young stars got off to a flying start at the University of Florida track in Central Florida.

Arguably the best performances of the day came from European Junior Champion David Bolarinwa.  He clocked one of his fastest ever 100m times of 10.33s to win his heat ahead of a classy field.  But then he went on to the 200m, and immediately found himself lined up against fellow Brit Adam Gemilli.

Gemilli had the final say with a winning personal best 20.70, but David's 20.78 was a huge personal best, achieved as he said afterwards, with still more in the tank.  All times at the meeting were wind legal.

Some of the TS1 squad get ready for the meet in the Gainsville stadium

These achievements had not come easily.  Just as the athletes were getting ready to warm up for the 100m races, the heavens opened, and thunder storms enveloped the nine-lane circuit.  The meeting was suspended well over two hours, which meant the athletes were competing deep into the evening.

Olympic hopeful James Ellington was first onto the stage with a fine 10.35s to win his heat - by far and away the fastest he has ever opened a season with, and this year he had started even earlier than usual!  In the 200m he clocked 21.04s winning his heat again, and notching another mark that was way ahead of any other season opener in past years.

The Gainsville track is awash as the meet is suspended during storms.
The meet restarted but ran deep into the evening, making it a marathon
day for the sprinters who had driven up from Orlando for the day!

It had to be the most encouraging start to any season Coach John Powell had ever seen, and he confessed to being a little startled after the dramatic weather conditions that threatened for so long to terminate proceedings completely:

"It was fantastic to see my guys firing so well so early," he said, "I never ever line athletes up to intentionally PB on day one - that would be pure folly.  But that is just what some people did, and believe me there is way more to come from everyone yet."

In the other sprints heats, Edmond Amaning at last cast 18 months of injury frustration behind him with a lifetime fastest 10.88s in the 100m, and 21.74s in the 200m, but he was one that John Powell specifically singled out as having far more to come:

"Edmond is a potential dark horse this year," he said, "he is a massive talent, and if he can stay clear of injury he could do very well indeed as a junior."

Omardo Anson equalled his 100m PB with 11.10s in his heat, and improved his 200m mark to 22.34s, while Jason Hussain notched 21.74s in his 200m heat after a 10.97s effort in the 100m.

Youngest squad member, fifteen-year-old Phillip Robinson, opened his track debut with solid 11.44 and 23.45s performances over both sprints - pretty reasonable while competing up to four years out of his age, and a t a meeting where world best times were being set in earlier rounds!

In the 400m hurdles, England Champion Ed Harrison clipped hurdle one, and clattered into hurdle two, but still managed to recover to record his fastest ever opener of 52.70s.

Trackspeed1 continue their pre-season preparations with further training in Orlando this week, and then compete again at the 20th Florida Glider's Spring Classic meeting, at Lake Brantley High School, on Saturday (28th).  They return to the UK on May 1st.

GO TIME FOR 2012 !

Trackspeed1 at last open their 2012 account tomorrow (Saturday 21st) at the Tom Jones Memorial Meeting, in Gainsville, Florida, USA.


All but one of the athletes currently in the southern state for pre-season training will be in action, mostly in the 100m and 200m events.

World Championship sprinter James Ellington leads the field in both sprints, while European Junior 200m champion David Bolarinwa will be looking to tag on to his coat tails as he has been in training this last week.

England Champion Ed Harrison goes over 400m hurdles, and the whole squad will be supported by coach John Powell, and TeamGB lead physio' John Allen, who has joined the party for the second part of their training camp.

"We are in pretty good shape," confirmed John Powell, "and apart from the normal one or two niggles pre-season, the Gainsville meet should be a positive opener.  I'm never looking for PB's first time out - just good, well-executed performances.  Our programme doesn't lend itself to early peaks, but comparisons with previous years will be interesting, as one or two guys have shattered training rep' times from 2011."

Trackspeed1 are in the States for another 10 days, with a second warm-up meet in Orlando - the 20th Florida Gliders Spring Classic, at Lake Brantley High School, on Saturday April 28th.

PREPARING WELL STATESIDE

Trackspeed1 preparations for the summer season are going well - that was the latest bulletin from Florida, USA, where the majority of the squad have emigrated to for pre-seasopn training.


After deciding against competing in Gainsville on 5-6th April, preparations are going well for their fist meeting of the year, also in Gainsville, on Saturday April 21st.

"We've had the usual few niggles here and there," reported coach John Powell, "but all in all everyone is in shape, and I think we can promise a couple of dark horses emerging on the scene this year!"

This wekend sees a break from training with Saturday and Sunday off, but then preparations begin again in earnest on Monday for the final run-in to Gainsville.

Trackspeed1 in training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Squad therapist Greg' Funnell gives a little trackside attention to
Jason Hussain

Coach John Powell gives an ESPN media team an interview on his
group's experiences Stateside over the past 13 years.

A few TS1 athletes take time out for a happy snap post-training.
L-R (back): Phillip Robinson, Ed Harrison, Melvyn Anukam, and front:
Omardo Anson, Edmond Amaning, David Bolarinwa, Jason Hussain.

TS1 GO STATESIDE

Trackspeed1 emigrated to the United states of America on Sunday - just in time to avoid the cold snap back home!  Based in Orlando, Florida, they are now basking in 90 degrees and near perfect conditions to put final preparations together for summer 2012.

Melvyn Anukam runs into Omardo Anson as TS1 rehearse a few relay
changes ahead of race meets later in the trip.  British Senior
James Ellington, and Ed Harrison look on.

Olympic sprints prospect James Ellington leads the pack with European Junior 200m Champion David Bolarinwa, alongside the likes of former internationals Andrew Matthews and Jason Hussain.  Among the junior athletes are Omardo Anson (18), and youngest of the bunch, Phillip Robinson, just 15 and on the trip of a lifetime.

"Phillip is on a vertical learning curve," laughed coach John Powell.  "He's shaking hands with pain in the gym, whilst looking round in awe at the amazing facilities a US training base provide.  It'll be great experience for him, and he should go home a little fitter into the bargain!"

It's a huge year for many British athletes as track and field will never have a higher profile, and so all are anxious to optimise their return.  The venue is one that TS1 have used for many years, and provides a virtual home from home for the majority.

"We've started off well this week," said John, " but have scratched the idea of competing in Gainsville on Friday/Saturday.  It was a great idea while it lasted, but we aren't quite ready, and I don't want athletes going into their first competition of the year with niggling doubts as to readiness in their heads.  We will be ready instead for 2 weeks' time, and that should see all of us ready to roll!"