SENSATIONAL OPENER - GAME ON FOR 2016!

David Bolarinwa European Junior Champion in 2011, and World Junior finalist in 2012, is back!  A sensational 10.35 (wind +0.4m/s) opening 100m run yesterday (22/4) was his fastest in three years, and spurred training partner Oweka Wanogho to his first lifetime best since 2012.

David Bolarinwa is all smiles after his season
opening 100m shot him into the top five
rankings in the UK, his fastest sprint since 2013.

Wanogho clung to David's coat tails until around halfway when the former world class junior pulled away to decimate all but one of the field, while Wanogho hung on to third with 10.69s, shattering his previous fastest ever time.

It was a huge boost for the whole of Trackspeed1-UK who were eagerly awaiting news from the rain-soaked Percy Beard track facility, in Gainesville, Florida.  The meeting had been suspended for almost two hours, putting their record-breaking performances on hold, and adding to the pressure of a season's opener.

It is of course, early days, but after three seasons away, David's first year back with Trackspeed1-UK since 2012 would appear to hold great promise.  His run was his fourth fastest ever, and ranks as fifth fastest in the UK.  Wanogho himself crept into the top 10 in the UK for the first time ever.

Conditions ultimately were pretty good despite torrential rain holding up proceedings for a substantial period, which won't have helped preparations, with a season's opening competition always an added pressure.  The rain returned for the 200m later in the day, but the meet pushed on, and duly produced another lifetime best for John Powell's squad.

A double rainbow decorates a rain-soaked Gainesville
track where Trackspeed1-UK athletes completed
outstanding season debut performances

Nic Baker had never gone under 22 seconds in his life, but braved the wet to record 21.83s, one hundredth behind Wanogho, who is clearly destined to go much faster this year.

The results triggered a host of messaging within the remainder of the group who were unable to compete, with recent internal time trials suggesting that most athletes are on course for lifetime best performances this year, and that the coach's timing in training might have been accurate after all!

"It's incredibly early days," said John Powell who couldn't help but punch the air when Bolarinwa's time was revealed, "but it's great to get an endorsement of someone's form so early on.  We know what David is capable of, and we know that both Oweka and Nic are in the form of their lives.

"Now all we have to do is ensure the rest of the group prove that they are too!"

Virtually the whole squad will open up their UK season at Newham on May 8th.

40 YEARS A COACH

It was 40 years ago today that Trackspeed1-UK head coach, John Powell took his first coaching badge at Crystal Palace, with coach Ron Roddan, coach of eventual Olympic and World 100m Champion, Linford Christie. 

A montage of some of John's international athletes since the turn
of the century including Chris Lambert, James Ellington,
Dwayne Grant, Jason Hussain, and Wade Bennett-Jackson

During the ensuing four decades, what he describes as an "unimaginable rollercoaster" shaped his life and formed a sporting community that he sits at the centre of today.

Speaking from his squad's warm weather training camp in Florida, USA, he reflected on a voluntary career that shadowed but supplemented what most would see as one of the more challenging professions:

"Many thought that coaching and the Police would clash big time," he said, "but in fact they complemented each other really well.  I learned people management skills in the Police, but adapted them to a massively diverse audience - many young - in athletics.

"I liked to think I could actually relate to young people far better as a result.  As time went on, management and organisational experience in athletics definitely helped in various ways through the ranks in the Met'.  The combination, I strongly believe to this day, made me a better coach and a better Police Officer."

Of the many highlights during the last 40 years, the early days saw arguably the most successful youth scheme in British Athletics created at then Blackheath Harriers, winning five national titles under John's management.  That then formed the trigger for an international coaching career that saw him travel worldwide, developing contacts and coaching partnerships all over the globe.

John's squads were highlighted by athletes taking part in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World and European Championships, along with innumerable World and European Junior Championships.

David Bolarinwa became only the third British junior to win three medals at a European junior championships under John's tutelege, while Chris Lambert won gold in the European under-23 championships 200m in a record time that stands to this day, along with the 4x100m relay, and then the World Student title over 100m all in the same year.

In 2013 John was presented with the MBE for services to Athletics by HM The Queen - a moment he described as more thrilling than any track success by any of his athletes ever!

The biggest moment of his coaching career - HM The Queen rewards John
with the MBE for services to Athletics.

On the day that he celebrated his 40 years holding a stop watch, his squad produced a mass of personal best times at pre-season time trials at their US base - and to cap it all, Head of Performance for British Athletics, Neil Black, put in a surprise appearance!

In what he describes as "life-part 2" John still has many challenges ahead, not least his currently 2 and 4 year-old daughters!  He is currently Chairman, Life Member and President of his club, Belgrave Harriers, and remains hugely ambitious to be part of the international athletics scene in the years to come.

Just a few moments from the later days of his coaching career are captured hereunder...

A spot interview on Australian TV during a training trip in Queensland

Bronze for athlete Wade Bennett-Jackson in the World Junior
Championships 4x100m relay in  Beijing 2006

Chris Lambert celebrates his World Student 100m title in South Korea, 2003

John talks through a training session Stateside with
Olympic sprinter James Ellington

This Trackspeed1-UK relay quartet sent shockwaves through some
top American college teams with a 40.12 4x100m in Orlando

John stands in front of the Harvard University track and field records
board which show Chris Lambert's college records which stand to this day.

John with European Junior 200m Champion, David Bolarinwa, 2011

John meets a track legend - former world 200m and 400m
record holder Michael Johnson

Another liaison with one of the world's all-time great sprinters - Don Quarrie

John shakes with British Athletics Head Coach Charles Van Commenee
whilst at the holding camp in Portugal for the London Olympics

Congratulating eventual Dame, Kelly Holmes, after her first
gold medal in the Athens Olympics, 2004

Carrying the London Olympics Torch at Crystal Palace 23/7/12 

Another shot of that big day with longest-serving
 athlete in the squad, and who led the nomination,
Jason Hussain

Another international and Olympian, Dwayne Grant.

TRACKSPEED1-UK READY TO ROLL STATESIDE!

Described as one of the most focussed groups at a pre-season training camp, by head coach John Powell, Trackspeed1-UK athletes cannot wait to open up their outdoor programme Stateside this year.

Flying out of the blocks - some of the squad in training at Clermont today

Based at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida, rep' times, technical work and general focus on the tasks at hand are on a real high.

"Olympic year always gives that extra thrill to track and field," said John, "and this group are very motivated - not to mention confident - to get going this season.  It's only the elite few who actually get to a major Games, but the sense of excitement is very contagious at every level in the sport.

"As usual we've had a couple of niggles this time round, but the support we have here is exceptional with physio' Dr John Allen, and Strength and Conditioning guru Mark Stanton, who also provides soft tissue treatment.

"That said, unlike previous years, there has been minimal  demand for massage therapy, and most of the group are in pretty good shape, so all the indications are good for a summer season.  We have only 8 weeks when we return to the UK before the Olympic trials and British Championships!"

More images from today's session...

David Bolarinwa (left) and Oweka Wanogho in action
during Stateside training

Niclas Baker is back with Trackspeed1-UK after studying in Leeds
University for the past year, and looking like
a great prospect over 400m!

Coach John Powell gives video feedback during a session at Clermont
this morning as the group gradually gear up for summer.

Piers Chen in action earlier today

Sam Imhogiemhe is quickly overcoming an initial hamstring
niggle to rejoin mainstream training next week.

ELITE SUPPORT FOR A FLYING START!

As Trackspeed1-UK athletes ease into the second week of their annual pre-season USA training camp in Florida, their elite support staff are already having a massive influence on some outstanding early-trip performances. 

Dr John Allen, arguably the most experienced and senior physiotherapist in athletics in the UK, is again the medical / therapy lead, with this year excellent backup from Mark Stanton MSc, whose qualifications in sports science, strength and conditioning and soft tissue therapy provide athlete support second to none.

Dr John Allen chats with Trackspeed1-UK athletes between training sessions

 Along with Head Coach, John Powell, who celebrates 40 years of qualified coaching in April, he joins Stanton and Allen to combine to form a formidable support team.

"It's not that we've had sack loads of injury issues already," explained John, "but we have a great set-up this year with discussion forums on various aspects of training led by John and Mark, while in-session advice is given by Mark in the gym, with John screening every athlete for any issues they need to be aware of.

"I doubt many squads have such quality, not-to-mention comprehensive support at a pre-season training camp other than the British team themselves.  It's a real privilege to have people like John and Mark on board for a 5-week camp.

"What is also a major contributor too of course, is the excellent facilities offered at the National Training Center in Clermont.  We've been going there for many years now, and it's small wonder that several world class American athletes base themselves there."

John Powell chats with some of the Trackspeed1-UK athletes in Flroida

Oweka Wanogho and Chaka Maillet go head to head in a training rep'
at Clermont as their coach looks on.

Meanwhile on the track early session times suggest most athletes are in shape to move on to some very positive performances this summer.  Their first intended competition is at the Tom Jones Memorial meeting, in Gainesville, on April 22nd.

"The Gainesville meet is far from a big deal for us," John continued, "but it's a great opportunity for people to get an idea of where they're at a few weeks before the season proper kicks in."

The first major meeting for the principle athletes in the squad on home ground will be the annual Loughborough University international on May 22nd.

Oweka Wanogho in action during training in Clermont

COACHING ON FOUR CONTINENTS AS SQUAD WARM UP FOR SUMMER.

With 2016 barely 3 months old, Trackspeed1-UK head coach, John Powell, has visited four continents, as well as overseen his squad steadily improve toward the 'business' end of the year!

After a few days in the US rekindling coaching links in southern states, Powell flew out to Thailand for a family visit, but still ended up advising one of the local athletes in Bangkok!

Then it was off to Austria with an England team in February for an indoor international, before jetting off to South Africa as a consultant advisor to the Director filming a pre-Olympics commercial, which was filmed on mountainsides around four hours outside Cape Town.

Also involved in that exercise were current TS1 sprinter Dwayne Dowding, and former squad member Matthew Threadgold, plus Olympian Dan Awde and South African sprinter Ryle Rene De Morny.

Taking time out to admire a new continent - John Powell
admires the Western Cape at sunrise earlier this month

"It was a real experience, and seeing some of the scenery around Cape Town was amazing," said John,  "We can't say too much about the commercial itself, but it was awesome working with the Californian film crew and a huge team of support staff, although the 4.30am starts were a tiny bit irksome!"

After time back in the UK - and a brief foray into rather more nearby Sussex to deliver a Masterclass to local coaches and athletes at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, John will jet off again to Orlando with a number of squad athletes for the annual warm weather training camp in Clermont.

Helping county coaches and athletes in Sussex -
John chats about aspects of sprinting science to a
selected group of the county's top exponents

"The Sussex event was great fun," said John, who spoke on a number of subjects including the 'coach/athlete journey', acceleration, running bends, and how to prepare for championships.  After that it was down to the track to put a lot of it into practice, assisted by one of the all-time greats in Sussex sprinting, Jason Hussain, and former European junior Champion David Bolarinwa.

Meanwhile, other Trackspeed1-UK athletes, whilst unlikely to be involved in the Rio Olympics this year, are shaping up to the point that PB's are expected pretty much across the board this summer.

The short indoor season produced almost everyone setting lifetime best times over 60m, and a similar return is hoped for certainly the 100m this summer, if not 200m as well.

The group's first competition will be in Gainesville, Florida, on April 22nd.

POWELL'S PURPLE PATCH

Trackspeed1-UK's head coach John Powell has hit something of a purple patch with 2016 barely a month old!

He has put to one side the sizeable haul of lifetime bests his athletes achieved in the few indoor meetings they took part in last month, and is now celebrating being selected as England team coach (sprints) for the indoor international in Linz, Austria, this Friday (12th).

"It was an email completely out of the blue," John explained, "but it was a pleasant surprise.  I've been to this meeting before and it's an excellent venue and fairly fast track, so hopefully we can come back with some decent results."

The meeting will reunite John with one of his former athletes, Josh Swaray, whose recent excellent form over 60 metres earned him selection at the eleventh hour.

Trackspeed1-UK coach John Powell will be leading
English sprinters into the Austrian international this Friday

Having already been on a flying visit to the USA early in January, and a few days on family business in Thailand a couple of weeks ago, one would have thought that keeping his feet on terra firma would be a reasonable tactic given that he has a six-week trip to the US for pre-season training this Spring.

Wrong!  A local promotions agency put his name forward to act as advisor to an American filming company who are putting together a major commercial from an Olympic sponsor pre-Rio.  So in March it's off to South Africa to oversee and advise the filming of the sprints side of that project!

"I've always had itchy feet," said John, and I'm pretty fond of traveling, but even for me this is a fair bit of globe trotting, given that I'm barely in the UK 48 hours after the filming trip and it's off to Orlando for the training camp!"

Meanwhile back home his squad of athletes have been left with a strict regime of training for the next few days to replenish basic fitness levels which John has assessed as having dropped during the competitive period.

"It's pretty normal to drop a peg or two when you're focussing on speed in January," he explained, "but now it's back down to the serious stuff to ensure we hit the ground running - quite literally - pre-season!"

FASTER THAN EVER!

While the public world of athletics becomes evermore embroiled in drug-related revelations, clean honest and hard-grafting athletes at Crystal Palace are reaping the rewards of good old fashioned hard work!

Trackspeed1-UK athletes competing indoors this month have almost all crucified their existing personal best times over 60 metres, and this despite no serious focus on an indoor season within their overall training programme!

Leading the way on improvement has been 21-year-old Sam Imoghiemhe, who joined the group in September with a modest lifetime best mark of 7.21 over the shortest sprint event. That got lowered in spectacular fashion to 7.07 on his first outing, but more was to come on Wednesday (13th Jan.)

Sam Imoghiemhe has reduced his 60m best time
by three tenths this winter already!

Competing on his 'home' track at Crystal Palace, he sped home to another massively improved time of 6.91s as one of the three fastest athletes at the entire meeting.

"Sam joined us, and I'm sure he won't mind me saying this, in rather 'raw' condition with a lot of technical issues," explained TS1 head coach John Powell.  "He still has many aspects of his running that need addressing, but he has been very focussed, has worked hard, and is rightly reaping the rewards for his efforts.

"It must be said that an open meeting at Crystal Palace is not like most.  The indoor track there can be as cold as it is outside, and so any good performances really are (very) good!"

Other athletes improving lifetime best marks have included Dean Hylton, Ishmael Smith-John, Nima Jam, Chaka Maillet, and Brandon Murray, a junior who has sliced almost two tenths off his previous best.

"This is without doubt one of the most motivated squads I have had in recent times," John went on, "and that is showing in their competitive performances.  It augurs really well for summer, although there is much more work to be done between now and then."

The group are in the midst of finalising plans for an elite group to travel to their annual pre-season training camp in Florida in March, but will first be focussing on the South of England Championships indoors this weekend (Sat 16th January) and the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley on 30/31st January.

RECOVERY TIME OFFERS SOME TOP CLASS INPUT

With a fair few weeks' Autumn grind behind them already, a scheduled recovery week for Trackspeed1-UK athletes offered the perfect opportunity for some expert assessment on progress so far.

Almost the whole squad attended two classroom sessions at Crystal Palace this last week hosted by sports scientist Mark Stanton on Tuesday, and England Athletics National Coach Mentor for Strength and Conditioning, Rob' Thickpenny, on Thursday.

Mark Stanton talks nutrition on Tuesday

Rob' Thickpenny talks S & C on Thursday

Mark took the group through some basic calculations reading each athlete's diet, and made a lot of recommendations on how they could improve their nutrition plans, improving their lifestyle, and hence potential performance on the track.

Rob' combined with Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell, to host a discussion on mainly strength and conditioning issues, which proved quite thought provoking for some, and triggered some very enthusiastic discussion.

"I doubt many groups do this sort of thing," said John, "but I thought it would be an excellent learning opportunity for the majority, and I think it turned out to be just that.

"As I said to the group at the beginning of the Tuesday session, I have purposely scheduled this recovery week for bodies to rest up a bit and recover from a pretty hefty workload this last few weeks.  It is definitely a case of 'less is more'.

"Rather than have everyone lazing around at home though, these two sessions really opened a few eyes to some key issues, and I am indebted to Mark and Rob' for facilitating the discussions.  You can train as hard as you like, but if you don't entertain a decent lifestyle then a lot of the effort is wasted.

"From experience, if people aren't encompassing the whole fitness agenda - nutrition, S & C, and general lifestyle issues, we hit the hamstring season and injuries or niggles start creeping in, and I've made it quite clear that isn't an option this winter!"

FLYING START FOR NEW SQUAD!

Trackspeed1-UK have got off to a flying start to winter training this year - both in terms of some seriously testing training workouts, and taking advantage of the various supplementary services their set-up has to offer.

With their first track session completed this week after a month of basic conditioning, Head Coach John Powell was enthused with the new-look group he has inherited for the new athletic year.

"There is a totally different look and feel to the squad this year compared with last," he said.  "Whilst not everyone may be aspiring to go to Rio in 2016, if the current levels of motivation along with a superb work ethic continue, we are going to have some serious personal bests set next season.

"Athletics isn't the most popular sport in the world at the moment, and it is such a pity that the cameras don't focus on the effort and grind being produced by these guys - at their own expense, and with no artificial aids at their disposal!"

Mark Stanton takes some of the Trackspeed1-UK squad through
basic conditioning work in the early stages of their
winter training programme

Mark Stanton, a highly qualified and very experienced coach in the fitness industry who is also qualified in massage and aspects of nutrition and strength and conditioning, has already dipped in to add a different perspective on a couple of sessions, while coach John Powell continues to work with England Athletics National Coach Mentor for Strength and Conditioning, Rob' Thickpenny.

The group also recently enjoyed a flying visit from former therapist Greg' Funnell who was trackside for a workout at Crystal Palace.

Thaerapist Greg' Funnell visited Crystal Palace recently to give some expert
advice on body maintenance to Trackspeed1-UK athletes

"Greg' has been terrific over the years," said John, "and the athletes have a huge amount of faith in him which makes a great difference.  The only problem is that he is based in Polegate, Sussex, so we don't see a great deal of him."

Grace Newton takes up her role as a regular source of therapy for the group this week trackside for one session a week, described by John as an "invaluable" asset.

"Things are going really well to date," added John, "and I'm really enjoying coaching these guys."

John Powell enters his 40th year of coaching this winter!

NEW DAWN - NEW SQUAD

After varying periods of rest and recovery from the past year's efforts, a new dawn breaks for Trackspeed1-UK as a number of new faces line up for squad training this autumn.

It's another strong group to follow in the footsteps of the 2014/15 squad, virtually all of whom set personal best performances during the summer months.  And with only 3 departures post-season, a much yearned-for element of consistency finally exists as well.

One of the most disappointing departures is that of Niclas Baker, whose progress over 400m after lengthy winter injury issues, lined him up as a real prospect, but his commitment to Leeds University necessarily drew him away from London for the next academic year.

Niclas Baker - will be a sorely missed member of the group

The flip side of that coin though will be the addition of new faces who will line up much potential for 2016 - another Olympic Year - and a season that sees added sources of inspiration and motivation to succeed.

"It's a real mixed bunch this year," said Head Coach, John Powell.  "Obviously it's disappointing to see people go, especially as virtually none over many years have ever improved after seeking pastures new.  It'll never happen, but there needs to be far better regulation of athletes' affiliation with coaches.

"A classic example is a sprinter who swore allegiance to the group for 2015/16, had me set up a work programme with a local university biomechanics lab' to supplement his core training, but then days later promptly departed to another coach.  Athletes have no respect these days and that represents a massive frustration for me, not to mention the other coaches who gleefully take them on.  I mean, if you're improving, why the bla-de-bla do you want to change!"

On a far more positive note, however, one of the brighter hopes for 2016 will be Dean Hylton, who was hugely frustrated to see a spectacular lifetime best 10.26 fail to make official ranking lists due to meeting registration and officials issues.

"Dean will simply have to prove it again," said John.  "He's a massive talent and will doubtless improve if he gets his teeth into the winter programme - something he's not all that used to up until now!"

Dean Hylton - potentially the most improved
British sprinter of 2015!

Hylton was not the only athlete who lost out on a personal best being recorded at the same meeting, but the squad will take some consolation in having effectively produced the most improved sprinter in the country for the second consecutive year!

Squad stalwart, Jason Hussain, who has trained with the group for over ten years now, missed out on the elusive sub-21-second 200 metres in 2015, and may opt to have a crack at 400m in 2016, although the temptation of having one more go at running sub-21 may prove to be too much!

"Jason has been worth a sub-21 200m for years," John added, "but circumstances simply haven't been kind to him - not least in 2008 when he was treated for Cancer, but even then he was back on the track training just 20 days after finishing a course of chemotherapy.  If only all athletes were that dedicated!"

Another potential sub-21 athlete could be 30-year-old Dwayne Dowding.  All sorts of issue during 2015 that prevented him from really fulfilling his potential are now in the past, and a full winter's work could see him join the upper echelons of sprinting in 2016.

The range of abilities is wider this year, with 10.26 filing down to high 11-point-high, plus two new female additions at under-17 level for development work.

Jason Hussain - enters his 11th year with Trackspeed1-UK