DALY TREBLE LEADS TRACKSPEED1 CHARGE!

Trackspeed1 UK sprinter Kieran Daly yet again grabbed the headlines at Bedford on Saturday, as he charged to three wins out of three in the annual Bedford International Games ("BIG").

Of four TS1 athletes he was by far the leading light, but the other three also proved that the squad are well on their way toward hitting form when it matters most this summer.

Daly opened his campaign with a solid 10.49s 100m - the third fastest of his career - despite a horrible start, demolishing classy opposition with a devastating pick-up toward the line.  Then later in the day he achieved another lifetime best mark - but that was also possibly one of the most frustrating performances of his life!

Kieran Daly (yellow top) demolishes a 100m field at Bedford.

In the 200m he charged to victory with a time of 21.00 seconds - tantalisingly close to the so far elusive sub-21-second barrier that so many athletes of his calibre pursue.  The post-mortems afterwards were of course full of "if only's" but it remained his fastest ever, and demonstrated a clear ability to go under the 21 second mark laster this season.

More was to come though in the send round of the 100m, where again he failed to exit the blocks particularly well, but blasted through the field to win in the second-fastest time of his life - 10.40s.  It rounded off an outstanding day's work,  and sets up he 21-year-old student from Downham, South East London, for a tasty month of June that packs in all the major championships of the season.

Also in action was 27-year-old Jason Hussain, whose year out of the sport in 2012/13 has seen him having to work exceptionally hard to regain any sort of form, but his labours were rewarded at Bedford.

Jason Hussain (yellow vest near-side) hits the line in the 200m at bedford.

In the 100m he clocked a season's fastest of 10.88s, but then topped that with his fastest 200m since well back in 2012 clocking 21.58s.  He finished third in the race in a blanket finish, but again this sets him up for further improvement during the June championships.

Matt Threadgold (third from right in claret/gold vest) dives for the line in the Bedford 100m.

Matt Threadgold, who trained with Trackspeed1 some years ago, only returned to training in March, and so he could be excused for having fairly modest expectations for 2014, but he also set a season's best 100m of 10.96s in a well-executed race.

Rounding off the Trackspeed1 charge was Nathan Gilbert, who opened his season's campaign at Bedford after being ravaged with injury issues for weeks.  His 10.90s 100m was disappointing to him, but coach John Powell was of a very different view:

"Nathan has been back training like a juggernaught," he said, " and he's not been far of Kieran's shirt tails, so we know what he's capable of.   He just needs a few races to get back into things and to stay uninjured."

June is a massive month for Trackspeed1 UK.  This weekend is a fairly soft one with most athletes training through, but then come the South of England Championships at Crystal Palace on 14-15th.  After that are the England National under-20 and under-23 Championships in Bedford, and a week later the British championships and European Championship Trials take place in Birmingham.

"Everything is packed into one calendar month this year domestically," explained John, "so unless you are going to the Commonwealth Games or European Championships, this is the month you have to perform in."

Top Trackspeed1 UK sprinter Josh Swaray is unlikely to feature as he faces a possible minor operation on a knee problem, and Fred' Afrifa faces an uphill task to recover from a hamstring injury in time for his target championships of the year.

"We've had a couple of injuries as usual," said John,"but it's still shaping up to be a really positive season for us as we rebuild the group."

The four Trackspeed1 UK sprinters in action at Bedford on Saturday.

Trackspeed1 UK are indebted to Mark Shearman and VincoSport for the photographs used in this blog.

BIG WEEKEND FOR TS1 QUARTET

This weekend sees the 20th Bedford International games take place, and with the Mondo track and an international class entry, the four Trackspeed1 UK guys entered will get little better opportunity to show what they are capable of.

Kieran Daly heads the cast with outings over both the 100m and 200m on Saturday, and he will be hoping for a favourable wind to help him on his way to further improving the lifetime best marks he has already impressively set this season.

Joining him on the entry list for both sprints will be Nathan Gilbert.  Last year's senior boys English Schools 100m finalist will be looking to open his season with a bang after at last overcoming a sciatic nerve problem that has hampered training for the last few weeks.

Nathan Gilbert hopes to open up with a positive
performance at Bedford on Saturday.

"Nathan has been showing up very well in training," said coach John Powell, " and he is certainly capable of a good performance this year.  He has had his fair share of injury issues, so we are all hoping that he can deliver something positive this summer."

Also contesting the sprints in the 100m will be Matthew Threadgold, along with Jason Hussain.  Jason is set to contest both sprints, and hopes to build on solid early season form as he prepares for the meatier part of the season in June.

The track and field programme is packed into June this year, with a league weekend in a week's time, followed by South of England Championships, the English National under-20 and under-23 Championships, and finally the Sainsbury's British Championships and European Championship Trials.

"Last year was pretty poor for us," said John Powell, "but we knew that was only a hoc-cup.  This year we are back kin to some good stuff, and we have some very talented athletes.  Longer term there are plans to really develop Trackspeed1 UK, so as far as I'm concerned things are really looking up!"

THREE ATHLETES, SIX MEDALS, JOB DONE!

It may "only" have been County Championships this weekend, but Trackspeed1 UK's season maintained its flying start with  six medals from just three competing athletes, which included one of the most impressive rises to fame at this level in years!

Barely nine months ago, TS1 Head Coach John Powell was reluctant to keep on Calvin Kirstein with his performances struggling to crack 12 seconds over 100 metres.  Come summer 2014 though, John welcomes the opportunity to admit that the Eastbourne Rovers speed man has well and truly rammed his words back down his throat!

Calvin Kirstein (left) and Jason Hussain proudly show off their 5 medals
at the Sussex County Championships

Competing in the Sussex County Championships, in Crawley, Calvin Kirstein struck bronze in both the 200m and 100m with 22.9s and 11.2s respectively, equalling his hand-timed best ever marks.  They were his first ever County medals, and cap a winter's worth of seriously hard graft.

"Calvin has become a real example of what can be achieved with a bit of hard work," said John.  "He commutes from Eastbourne to Crystal Palace three times a week, and is now showing incredible improvement.

"We take pride in bigging up the internationals in Trackspeed1, and all their achievements in major championships," he continued, but it is almost as satisfying to see someone at the albeit modest county level achieving so well.  There's little more satisfying for a coach than seeing an athlete put in really hard work, and then improve well as a result."

Calvin couldn't quite better training partner Jason Hussain though.  For it was Hussain, 27, who took gold in both sprints clocking 11.1 and 22.2.  Then conditions for the 200m on Saturday were atrocious with headwind and driving rain, while the 100m n Sunday - albeit in sunny dry conditions - suffered a -1.7m/s headwind.  It was happy days for Hussain though, who has won countless Sussex titles over the years.

There was a generous bonus for Calvin though, with gold in the 4x100m relay as Eastbourne Rovers streaked away with the Sussex title, making it a pretty satisfying weekend for the 23-year-old who had previously never won a medal at County level.

Elsewhere in the Surrey Championships Matt Threadgold looked set to land a sixth medal for his squad n the 100m final in Kingston, but blocks slipping in the final left him languishing in fourth at the line. He clocked 10.99s, although in the heat he had timed 10.81, albeit assisted by a +2.4 tail wind.  Instead it was 17-year-old Renee Ross-Gordon who took bronze in her 200m final clocking 26.4s faced with a 4.4m/s headwind at Kingston - a "far from shabby run..." in her coach's words!

"It's been a pretty positive start to 2014," commented John Powell.  "We may have lost some top athletes post-2012, but we are well on the 'up' now, and I reckon we have a couple of dark horses in the group who could raise a few eyebrows this summer.

"Already we have Kieran Daly earning his first ever international at Loughborough, and I reckon Nathan Gilbert will impress too once he gets back fit from recent injury issues.  Fred Afrifa has a hamstring injury that will not help is 2014 campaign, but once fit again, the Italian World Juniors squad member could still impress.  And there are more where he came from too!

"There are going to be some significant changes that will be aimed at moving Trackspeed1 UK back up a few grades this next winter - watch this blog for details.  We have an international reputation and I'm not about to lose that, and we have contacts all over the globe.  With the athletes we have, a who knows who else may join the party - the future is looking pretty good!"

Calvin and Jason mounted the rostrum on exactly
the same steps twice at Crawley!

YET ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL IS BORN!

Trackspeed1 UK's glittering hall of fame expanded by yet another name yesterday (Sunday 18th) as Kieran Daly became the latest athlete to gain international honours, after 4 years in the squad.

Kieran is all smiles as the latest new international athlete produced by Trackspeed1 UK.

With 2012 and 2013 seasons littered with injury issues, Kieran had already made a bold statement with huge personal bests a week earlier at Windsor (see earlier blog), but in the annual Loughborough University international meeting he went one step further and caught the eye of England selectors.

Initially planted in the 4 x 100m relay team, he actually ended up wearing the red and white of his home country in the 200m, where he ran the second fastest time of his life - 21.13 seconds - from lane one, finishing fourth overall.

The performance that had caught the selectors' eye had been his 100m effort earlier in the day, where he took full advantage of ideal weather to clock a wind legal lifetime best of 10.37s - a far better mark than the 10.21s a week earlier, which was aided by a 5.0m/s gale behind him!

The performance ranks him currently ninth fastest in the UK this year - third fastest in his own age-group of under-23 athletes, with the great Adam Gemili only just in front with 10.32.  Chijindu Ujah leads the listings with 10.17s.  More importantly, in the race at Loughborough, Kieran finished in front of former Olympic gold medalist Mark Lewis-Francis, and former European Junior Champion David Bolarinwa.

"It was a great run," said coach John Powell who was present to watch his protégée perform, "and the great thing is that he can clearly go faster with some work on his starts.  The 200m was frustrating because he should have been slotted into lane 5, but a breakdown in communications ended up with him having to run on the inside, which almost certainly cost him a personal best, set a week ago at 21.08!"

Training partner Jason Hussain was equally delighted for Kieran.  He said on a social networking site: "Congrat's to Kieran Daly after representing England today at the Loughborough International.  I've trained with this guy for a good 5-6 years.  He has trained so hard and proper deserves the season he is having!"

Kieran will take a weekend off competition this coming weekend, but returns to action at Bedford on May 31st for the Bedford International Games. After that he will be focussing on three huge consecutive weekends: the Southern Championships, National Under-23 Championships, and finally the UK European championship trials in Birmingham.

Kieran (far side, lane 1, in red) on the final straight in the 200m at Loughborough on Sunday.

Kieran in action in the 100m at Loughborough.

SUPER KIERAN BREAKS THROUGH AT LAST

'Trackspeed1 UK' sprinter Kieran Daly at last hit the radar of elite athletics as he set two scintillating lifetime best marks in the British League today (Saturday 10th) at Windsor.

Kieran Daly - moved to a whole new level of athletics with
sensational lifetimes best performances at Windsor.

In far from ideal conditions, he blasted to a phenomenal 10.21s in the 100m - some 0.37 inside his lifetime best - and left his nearest rival in the UK's premier club competition some 0.25s behind!  It was also the fourth fastest time clocked by a British athlete this year with or without wind assistance!

The only statistic that took the shine off the after-party was the following wind - a gale of +5.0m/s - but as any sprinter will testify, a wind that strong - even if it's in your favour - is as much a hindrance as an aid, as balance and leg speed is adversely affected.

This was, however, not all, and arguably the best performance of the day was to come in the 200m,  Here the 21-year-old Blackheath and Bromley Harrier placed first again, clocking a sensational 21.08s.  That was 0.48s inside his fastest ever mark set in the United States 3 weeks ago but, most importantly, this was wind legal with a following breeze of +1.1 well below the permitted 2.0.  It also ranks as one of the fastest ten performances by any athlete in the `UK this year!

As the news broke, Kieran's coach, John Powell, was out with his family inLondon's West End, and he confessed to being stopped in his tracks when he got the message:

"We all knew Kieran was in the form of his life," said John, "but in the conditions around London today I must admit I didn't think this was the day when we would get a breakthrough like this.  It's nothing less than he deserves though - Kieran's potential has been frustrated by injury the last couple of seasons, but we are all hoping and praying that 2014 will see something closer to his true ability."

The positives to come out of Windsor for Daly were not only the times, but also the knowledge that there were a number of technical issues that could be vastly improved, and so even further improvement cold be reasonably expected as the season progresses.

Kieran's next outing is due to be at the Loughborough international meeting next Sunday 18th May when he is hoping to get lanes in both sprints.  Having trained under John Powell's tutelage for 4 years now, he represents yet further evidence of TS1UK's ability to create and develop world class athletes form the ground floor!

Kieran holds his bottle of champagne, awarded to him as the 'Man
of the Match' at the British League's opening fixture in Windsor.

REBECCA SIGNS FOR TS1 UK

Physiotherapist Rebecca Webber has pledged her ongoing support for Trackspeed1 UK after a month of working with squad members at their pre-season training camp in Florida, USA.

Rebecca, who has by the admission of head coach John Powell, been "worth her weight in gold" over the last few weeks, has agreed to provide physio' support trackside at training back at Crystal Palace.

Rebecca reflects on the squad's Florida camp with
Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach, John Powell

"I have so enjoyed working with Trackspeed1 athletes," she said, "they are a great bunch and I have learned a lot from them  as they - I hope - might have learned a thing or two from me.

"I see it as unfinished business in making sure these athletes get as much support as practicable in pursuing their dreams, and if I can contribute then that's great."

John Powell, along with all the athletes in Florida were delighted: "We have had some first class therapists on this annual trip," he said, "and Rebecca is right up there with the best.  I'm so pleased she feels able to continue the invaluable support she has given us in the States back home."

KIERAN'S BACK WITH A BANG!

Trackspeed1 UK sprinter Kieran Daly - sidelined since 2012 with injury - bounced back with two scintillating performances on Saturday (19th) in Gainesville, Florida.

Daly - who is still eligible for the June national under-23 UK Championships this year - ran the fastest 200 metres of his life clocking 21.59s, although there is clearly far more to come as the summer season gets under way.

His previous best of 21.69s was overshadowed by a confident performance that was just 90 minutes after he had run the second fastest 100 metres of his life in 10.60s.  The latter was after a poor reaction out of the blocks, but a healthy pick-up, so again this mark looks destined to improve later in 2014.

The conditions were quite reasonable at the James G. Pressly Stadium for the Tom Jones Memorial meet - a contrast on previous years where storms or cold have blighted another wise top class meet.

A delighted coach, John Powell, commented: "We have known for a while Kieran is in great shape, but to open up like this when winter training has barely turned into pre-season is a great indicator of what there is to come."

Kieran was not the only TS1 athlete in good form on day one of the 2014 season.  Nearer home, Calvin Kirstein ran a fastest ever 23.1 in cold and windy conditions, while Matt Threadgold impressed after only a few weeks back on the track after lengthy absence, with a 10.9s 100m, 22.3 200m, and 50.5 4 x 400m relay split time.

Jason Hussain - another athlete returning to the track after a year out - opened up with a Southern League 100m in 11.1 ands 200m in 22.3.  "Jason messaged me in the States," said John Powell, "and he was quite disappointed, but I gather the conditions were freezing cold with a headwind, so for an opening effort in mid-April my view was that you take that and hope for better conditions next time out.

Back across the Atlantic, other TS1 athletes in action included Nathan Gilbert.  His 10.85s 100m was an unspectacular performance, but given that the athlete was suffering sciatic nerve pain half way down the straight, and will possibly need back surgery at the end of the season, it was actually a very good effort.  James Kasirye-Sebalu completed his 100m in 11.31s, and Josh Swaray the 200m in 22.35s

FLORIDA HOSTS PROGRESS TOWARD SUMMER

Trackspeed1 UK are split up this Spring due to lack of funds for many of their athletes, but for those who did make it over to pre-season training in Florida, the sunshine state is providing them with the stage for another great build-up to summer (see photo's below).

TS1UK head coach John Powell is leading the programme, based at the USA National Triathlon Training Center, in Clermont, near Orlando.  He was disappointed that so few were able to make it tis year, but enthused by the progress made by those that were.

"It's not always about training hard on a trip like this.  It offers the opportunity for athletes to think about their bodies 24/7 without external pressures, and that in itself is a huge advantage pre-season," he said, "and everyone here has progressed well to date.

"That said of course, we want to optimise performance, and there are some very promising signs from the guys out here already, and we are barely half way into the trip.

"It's a great pity we had to leave so many back in London though.  there simply isn't the funding in sport these days for up and coming athletes until they really hit the national radar, and of course that is a catch-22 situation.  They can't hit the national radar because they need that extra boost to do so, but they can't afford it, and so don't get support!"

Nathan Gilbert joins the party as a late-comer tonight (Sunday 6th), and Kieran Daly travels at the end of the coming week.  Both athletes have shown significant improvements in form in training at Crystal Palace of late, and will be looking to polish up fitness levels and sprint performance in the Florida sun.

Meanwhile, the likes of Italian junior Fred' Afrifa, English Schools Champion Fawwaz Okunola, and experienced senior Jason Hussain, among others, remain in London under the tutelage of TS1UK assistant coach Johnathan Regis.

Josh Swaray leaves the blocks in Florida almost synchronised with
training partner Elijah Winn (obscured), as John Powell looks on 

John Powell discusses a training session with
England international Josh Swaray

Elijah Winn takes advantage of some expert
physiotherapy from squad therapist Rebecca Webber

Ugandan international James Kasirye-Sebalu and coach
John Powell share a lighter moment during training

REBECCA DELIVERS A CLASS ACT STATESIDE

Trackspeed1 UK’s annual pre-season training camp in the USA sadly left behind a large portion of the squad this year, but a new member of staff is in the process of making it a very worthwhile trip for those who did make the journey!

Physiotherapist Rebecca Webber has proved a huge hit with both athletes and coach.  She is in the process of conducting full screenings of each athlete, and has organised daily clinics to avail treatment or maintenance post-training sessions.

New Trackspeed1 UK physiotherapist,
Rebecca Webber MSc MSCP

The group are based again at the USA National Triathlon Training Centre in Clermont, not far from Orlando, Florida.  They are benefitting this year from the added feature of a brand new track that was laid just weeks ago.

Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach, John Powell, who is leading the group again this year was very enthused by the group’s 2014 set-up:

“Rebecca has proved a big hit,” he said, “and she is very professional and clearly knows her stuff.  We have had the privilege of Dr John Allen in past years – one of the best therapists in the UK – and there was always a danger we could lose out on his expertise, but Rebecca is delivering a very impressive physio’ service indeed.

“The Clermont facility was showing signs of wear last year, so to turn up to a brand new track was an added bonus,” he continued.  “We are only a few days in to the trip so far, but to date things have gone remarkably well.  It’s just such a shame that so many couldn’t afford the trip this year despite a small amount of sponsorship being made available.

“Warm weather training is not only what the term suggests – training in warm weather.  It also avails the opportunity for the group to focus 24/7 on themselves as athletes, and hence improve performance in both training and the one competition we hope to take part in this year later in April.  And so far, that is exactly what they are doing!"

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT JP AND TS1 UK...

As the summer season beckons and the Trackspeed1 UK annual warm weather training camp approaches, Head Coach John Powell has been reflecting on years gone by.  Here are a few facts - not so well known by many…

·      The squad’s first ever sponsor was Fila who stepped in during the early nineties;

·      The squad’s first source of funding was the National Foundation for Sport and the Arts (who took a backward step when the National Lottery emerged);

·      More on funding – the squad’s immensely generous benefactor and Patron, Sir Eddie Kulukundis OBE, bankrolled a huge amount of support to John Powell and his athletes through the nineties before the lottery kicked in;

·      John Powell himself has belonged to three clubs – Herne Hill Harriers where he was Junior Captain, Blackheath Harriers where he founded what was to become the most successful youth scheme in athletics, and Belgrave Harriers where he reformed their youth and junior section, winning the national league in 2000, and for whom he still sits as club Chairman;

·      Educated at Alleyn’s School, Dulwich, John’s athletics career opened up as the establishment’s Cross Country Captain who also skippered then Southwark Borough teams;

·      Numerous coaches have partnered John during his almost four decades now as a coach.  They include the long jump legend Alan Lerwill, sprints coaches Clarence Callendar, Donovan Reid, the late Roger Walters, and others way too many to name here, but several more he met the other side of the Atlantic…

·      USA coaches John has worked with have included the late Paul Turner (Harvard), Brooks Johnson (Florida), Lance Brauman (Florida), Mike Holloway (Florida), Bryan Fetzer (Virginia), Walt Cline (Washington), and a host of others including squad Diagnostic Advisor Gavin Fernandes now based in Sydney, Australia;

·      John’s first ever coaching examination took place at Crystal Palace with a certain Ron Roddan – coach to Linford Christie – in April 1976;

·      In 2012 John was short-listed and interviewed for the position of Head Coach for UK Athletics;

Trackspeed1 UK Head Coach, John Powell

·      Athletics has enabled John to travel the Globe.  He follows his athletes everywhere and has supported them - at personal expense in most cases - in Singapore (first World Youth Olympics '10), Deagu (World Universities '03 and World Championships '11), Melbourne (Commonwealth Youth Games '04), Beijing and Santiago (World Junior Championships '06 & '00), Moscow (European Youth Olympic Trials '10) and numerous other destinations in Europe and beyond;

·      As an athlete (a very modest one, he will hasten to add!) John competed in 100m, 200m, 400m flat and hurdles, 800m, 1500m, steeplechase, cross-country, road running, and 3 marathons!

·      Jamie Quarry was the first Trackspeed1 athlete to win an English Schools title, and his Junior Boys Triple Jump record (1987) stands to this day;

·      One of the most famous athletes to be discovered and schooled by Trackspeed1 for the first 4 years of his career was Phillips Idowu;

·      John was head of security, having designed the security plan, for the Crystal Palace Diamond League event 4 years in a row 2008-11;

·      John has been part of TeamGB at two Olympic Games in 2004 and 2012.  He worked with New South Wales Police prior to Sydney 2000, and was involved in early security planning for London 2012;

·      John Powell has met Her Majesty The Queen three times – as a sixth former at school during her Silver Jubilee, when she presented awards to his new Met-Track scheme in 2005, and on receiving the MBE in 2013;

·      John’s battle with Cancer just over 20 years ago saw him survive the rigors of two relapses, becoming the first patient in London to receive then pioneering treatment that ultimately saved his life through a bone marrow transplant in 1992;

·      John’s daughter Jasmine is the oldest IVF baby in British history (see www.jasmine21.com), and his youngest daughter Jessica confounded consultants by arriving in a somewhat more orthodox manner, much to the shock but utter delight of both parents!

·      John acted as a pundit on Sky Sports during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games;

·      Among some dramatic experiences in his Police career, he helped douse a demonstrator in Whitehall who had set himself alight with petrol, and was running toward the Queen and Government officials on Remembrance Sunday at 11am.  He was one of the first on scene at the Poll Tax riots in Trafalgar Square, and he had a giant flower pot rammed over his head outside the Royal Exchange during a large 'Stop the City' demonstration in 1984!!;

·      Of all the international standard athletes moving to other coaches against John’s wishes over the past 3 decades, only four have ever improved.  Interestingly their surnames involve the initials M, B and E !