DAVID NOW WORLD NUMBER TWO!

Trackspeed1 wonderkid David Bolarinwa, 16, added a new dimension to sprinting at the weekend as he hit number two in the world under-18 rankings for 100 metres.

In a scintillating weekend's work at the England under-20 championships in Bedford, he not only grabbed the national title from under the noses of athletes far senior to him, but clocked an incredible 10.47 seconds, which leaves him as third fastest ever Brit, and second on this year's global lists for under-18's.

The latter is most relevant as his agenda takes him to Singapore in August for the World Youth Olympics, an under-18 competition.

"I think I might have cheesed a few people off," said David after the 100m on Saturday (19th), "because I'm friends with alot of the guys in the event, but nobody contacted me at all for ages afterwards.  I think they were a bit shocked that an under-17 beat them, but we're all fine now."

Bolarinwa had caught the eye of the crowd right from the off, as he stormed to victory in the heats in a wind-aided 10.62 - the fastest he had ever run over the distance thus far.  Then in the semi-final he clocked 10.43, but again the wind speed was over the legal limit.

When the clock stopped in the final everyone held their breath as the wind speed was communicated to the announcer's box.

"I must admit I was a bit awe-struck when we found out the wind speed was legal," said coach John Powell, "because this puts a copletely new dimension on David's career from here on.  He will be seen as the new kid on the block, and the fun will soon become pressure as expectations rise, but he has a stable head on his shoulders and I am confident he will handle it."

Bolarinwa had not finished though as, barely 24 hours later, he was in action again in the 200 metres, making it six races in a 24-hour period, a challenge for the most senior of athletes.

The heats saw him speed round in a fastest ever 21.36, but again the wind speed was just over the permitted limit, but in the semi-final it dropped, and his 21.17 saw him fire into fifth place on the all-time lists for his age in the UK.

The final saw his first technical slip of the weekend as he didn't quite hit the bend hard enough, and he entered the straight with it all to do.  His eventual third place in 21.21s, another wind-legal mark, earned him bronze in an age-group three years his senior, and wide acclaim as the athlete of the championships.

"David had an outstanding weekend and I'm immensely proud of him," said John Powell,"because not only did he run fast, he exeited his events really well in the main, and he is learning all the time.  He's a great talent, but there is still much work to do, both before Singapore, and in the longer term before we start thinking about senior athletics."

Bolarinwa next races in the British Athletics League for his club, Cambridge Harriers, on Saturday July 3rd, after which he will be defending his English Schools 100 metres title, in Birmingham, on July 9/10th.

Trackspeed1 had one other athlete in action at Bedford on Sunday in Femi Owolade, and he too travelled back down the M1 with a smile from ear to ear.

The 22 year-old Blackheath and Bromley athlete sped through the heats of the under-23 200 metres in a lifetime's fastest 21.44 seconds in first, and progressed through the semi-finals with 21.53, although only as a fastest loser to the final.

In the final, he was drawn outside in lane eight making a solo run a real challenge, but he came off the bend well in touch with the leaders, and held on for a bronze medal he dare not have even dreamed about beforehand.

"I can't believe it," he said afterwards, "getting a PB was one thing, but winning a medal is beyond my wildest dreams, I am really happy."

Finally, the news was at last getting better for UK number three over 100 metres, James Ellington, whose tragic hamstring tear in Geneva earlier this month saw his European Championship dreams evaporate.

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier began rehabilitation work in the hydrotherapy pool on Sunday, and now must battle to prove his fitness before final selection for the Commonwealth Games.  That is likely to be mid-August at the latest.

Femi Owolade is all smiles with his 200m Bronze at Bedford.

NEWS GETTING BETTER FOR TS1

As the week opened it was beginning to look b leak, but Trackspeed1's season looks to be back on the rails after a series of really good news stories suggested 2010 could yet be the best ever.

First, James Ellington's injury was reviewed by doctors and judged to be a grade two tear which would keep the British number three off the track for a few weeks, but nowhere near the weeks or months initially feared.

Then the squad's youngest athlete, 15-year-old Omari Carr-Miller, whose nightmare winter saw him nursing a recurring stress fracture in his left shin, completed his comeback with a superb 50.3 second effort over 400 metres in the Surrey Schools final to ensure selection for the prestigious English Schools Championships in July.

Omari was the country's number two last year as an under-15, but hit the rocks in October as injury frustrated his plans for a sturdy winter with his new squad.

"Omari has been incredibly determined," said coach John Powell, "and many 15-year-olds would not have stayed the distance, but Omari stuck at it and now he is almost back to his best."

In addition, Dele Onifade put a winter full of injury behind him with some solid sprints in the South of England Championships last weekend, and pronounced himself fit for the under-23 nationals this weekend in Bedford.  And training colleague Danny Doyley at last opens his 2010 account in an open meeting in Tooting Bec.

"It's been a difficult time for two or three otherwise very talented sprinters in the group, but now we are optimistic that everyone can enjoy a really fruitful and productive second half of the summer," said John Powell.

Competing in this weekend's national under-20 and under-23 championships, in Bedford, are Femi Owolade, Dele Onifade, Samuel Adeyemi, and David Bolarinwa.

ELLINGTON BID FOR GLORY ENDS IN TRAGEDY

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington's season catastrophically collapsed in Geneva on Saturday as, despite clocking another lifetime best 100m time, he crashed to the deck with a hamstring tear that now stands to wreck his season.

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier beat a classy field including fellow Brit' Rikki Fifton to clock 10.23s with a small headwind, but as he crossed the line a searing pain in his right leg sent him crashing down, and now he will miss the European Championships in July, and needs a miracle to get him fit for October's Commonwealth Games.

"It's simply not fair," said coach John Powell, "that someone like James who has worked so hard over the years, has to take a knock-back like this.  He has had no lottery funding support, and so I have no idea how we are going to afford treatment.  He needs virtually daily therapy this next week or two, and that doesn't come cheap.  He's a huge 2012 prospect and it's just this sort of scenario that can snuff out whole careers just like that.

"Ironically, our only real hopes are for UK Athletics to provide some sort of support, and we don't know if that can be forthcoming yet, or there is a consultant in Germany who has an outstanding track record with athletes in this position, but he costs £3000 and that sort of money simply isn't floating around.

"James is now the country's number three sprinter, and will very soon be number one - 2012 is a very big part of his longer term agenda, but this has been a very big blow indeed.  We can only hope that some help is forthcoming from somewhere.  James is a fighter, and he'll get back one way or the other, but the next few weeks and maybe months will be very challenging."

The one positive that Powell was able to cling to over the weekend was the return to competition after a two-week exam layoff of 16-year-old David Bolarinwa.  He competed in the under-20 100m South of England Championship, at Crystal Palace, and taught his elders a stern lesson in sprinting!

In the heat David cruised to 10.95 despite a headwind, but in the semi-final, powered to a hugely impressive 10.69, the second fastest of his career, despite a headwind of over 2m/s.  In the final he struck gold with 10.76 into an even stronger -3.2m/s headwind, lining him up for this weekend's national championships at under-20 level as a real contender.

BRITAIN CALLS FOR ELLINGTON

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington has had his first full senior international call-up confirmed this week, as he was named in the sprint relay squad traveling to Norway for the 2010 Europa Cup next weekend (19-20th June).

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier has become one of the fastest sprinters in the country this year having at last broken through at senior level, after a glittering career through the age-groups which saw him final at European and World Junior and under-23 Championships.

James will join the rest of the British team at Brunel University for a final round of baton practice on Wednesday next week (16th June), before flying to Bergen, Norway on Tursday for the weekend competition.  He isn't assured yet of running, although must rank among the favourites to make the GB quartet alongside the likes of Marlon Devonish, Leon Baptiste, and Tyrone Edgar.

Ellington's selection will be a fillip to many athletes knocking on the door of international level athletics, as with no Lottery funding in support of his career, he has had to make it the hard way to the top.

The Cup clash centres on an immensely busy and very significant period for track and field, with the European Championship Trials only a week later in Birmingham.  Far from being a finals hopeful, James Ellington will open up on Friday 25th in the 100m as a possible podium prospect!

This weekend the South of England Senior and Junior Championships are staged at Crystal Palace, and both Trackspeed1 hopefuls James Ellington and Jason Hussain who compete in Geneva on Saturday, hope to return to run in the 200m on Sunday.

Alongside them will be 16-year-old david Bolarinwa, who has been exam-bound for 2 weeks, but will contest the under-20 100m championship as part of his preparation for the World Youth Olympics in Singapore in August.  Training comrades Samuel Adeyemi, Femi Owolade, Danny Doyley, and Jack Miller all also hope to compete, while 15-year-old Omari Carr-Miller visits the Surrey Schools Championships on Saturday.

A crowded domestic calendar in July features the first England Championships, in Gateshead, which will double as the trials for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, in October.

"It's exciting times," said Trackspeed1 coach John Powell, "and I'm not quite sure where I'm going to  get the time off to go to all the championships this year if everyone carries on running so well!  It's a nice problem to have though, and I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks."

ELLINGTON JOINS THE ELITE

James Ellington with coach John Powell

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington is back alongside the elite of British Athletics after a scintillating 100m run in Germany yesterday (Saturday 5th).

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier clocked 10.28s with virtually no following wind to record the second fastest 100m of his illustrious career on the track to date.  It was a performance that easily outstripped his best of 10.27s which was aided by a slight wind behind him in Belgium last year, and finally confirmed he is the in-form sprinter this year.

Most importantly James beat all his British counterparts, including Tyrone Edgar and others, which puts him in a very strong position when it comes to selection decisions later in the year.

"James has at last worked his way through to the top," said a delighted coach John Powell, "and we know already he will be in the squad competing in the Europa Cup in Norway in 2 weeks time.

"It's terrific job satisfaction having seen him come through from age 13 to now, within the TS1 set-up bar two seasons.  At the trials in 3 weeks' time he's a podium hope now rather than hoping he might scrape into the final."

Ellington travels again this next weekend when coach John Powell joins him, along with fellow Trackspeed1 training partners Dwayne Grant and Jason Hussain in a competition in Geneva, Switzerland, where all three athletes will be hoping for favourable conditions to facilitate a good performance ahead of the European Championship Trials in Birmingham 2 weeks later.

Ellington faces a busy weekend as, if everything goes to plan, he will also contest the 200m South of England Championship, at Crystal Palace, on Sunday.

"We've not had great conditions to run in this summer," said John Powell, "and all the times so far have been wind-assisted apart from James in Germany yesterday.  We need some legal marks to take th pressure off a little so we can then just get on with the running."

ELLINGTON POISED FOR GLORY

Trackspeed1's James Ellington stood poised to at last make his mark among the elite of British sprinting after a scintillating 200 metre victory at Bedford today (31st May).  He was competing in the annual inter-counties championship meeting.

The 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier timed the fastest half-lap sprint of his illustrious career of 20.86 seconds, but it was frustratingly assisted by a 3.1m/s following wind and so won't impact on existing rankings.  It nevertheless placed the former World Junior finalist among the top performers over both sprints in the UK this year.

"James is on fire this summer," said a delighted coach John Powell who has worked with Catford-born Ellington since the age of 13 bar two seasons.  "He has wintered really well, and touch wood, all the niggles of last year seem to have cleared up.  Although the winds have been just over the permitted limit for his early outings, it's obvious he's in great shape and only a matter of time before he puts down a serious - and legal - performance."

The weekend hadn't begun quite so positively for Ellington, as he false started in the 100m heats, and was given a straight red card under the new zero tolerance rules, a repeat of the scenario in last year's Crystal palace grand prix.

"We've looked at the film John took of the start, and the guy on my right twitched which is what set me off," said James.

Ellington now looks toward next weekend when he travels to Germany with the British team for an international meeting, contesting the 100 metres and 4 x 100m relay.

Also in action over the weekend for Trackspeed1 was 27-year-old Blackheath Harrier Dwayne Grant, who was competing in a European invitation meeting in Greece.

Grant clocked a season's best 100m of 10.42s, finishing third in the A-race, and went on to time another season's fastest 21.13s over 200m, also finishing third, and with legal wind speeds in both events.

"It's really coming together well this season," said John Powell, and there are other athletes in pretty good shape who haven't really got going yet, so 2010 is looking very positive right now."

James Ellington (left) and Dwayne Grant in training before 

a productive weekend's sprinting at home and abroad.

BRITAIN CALL FOR ELLINGTON AS UK WEATHER STALLS PROGRESS

This article is updated at the foot of the text


Trackspeed1 stalwart James Ellington began life with coach John Powell aged 13, and went on to become one of the most successful championship medalists through the agegroups of all time in the UK.  In 2010 he could just be on the brink of the ultimate breakthrough as a senior.

It's been a while coming, but after a period in the wilderness, James has at last received a call-up to Great Britain seniors, competing in Germany next weekend.  After his performance at Loughborough last week (see previous blogs) he is well and truly back on the international sprinting map!

The only thing between him and personal bests over both 100m and 200m at the inter-counties meeting at Bedford tomorrow (30th) and Monday, will be the good old UK weather.  Training comrade David Bolarinwa suffered at the hands of a 4.8m/s headwind in winning the South of England title at Ashford today (29th), but was blown backwards to a 11.22s run - one of his slowest for two years.

"We don't want wind or rain at Bedford," said coach John Powell, "but whatever we get we simply have to deal with.  James is on awesome form right now, and it's only a matter of time before he puts down a serious lifetime best mark."

The second Trackspeed1 athlete in action at the Ashford meeting was 15-year-old Omari Carr-Miller, the youngest of Powell's protégées.  After a winter ravaged by injury, the under-15 national 400m champion successfully progressed to the final after a solid 51.94 run to second place in his under-17 men's heat.

Update from Bedford...
High winds - exactly what coach John Powell was hoping would not be the case - blighted the sprinters at Bedford on the first day of the inter-counties meeting, although this proved to be the least of James Ellington's troubles.

Lining up as the fastest athlete by far in his heat of the 100 metres, Ellington false started and was immediately red carded by officials under the new zero tolerance false-start ruling.  He must now wait until tomorrow (31st) when he will contest the 200 metres.

"It was frustrating, but absolutely the right decision within the rules," said John Powell.  "James is in great shape, and having a wind like that behind him would have blown him to an exceptional time, but it wasn't to be.  I don't think he'll be doing that again in a hurry though, so hopefully it was a learning experience for him!"

Winds at Bedford were measured between plus four and plus six metres per second - a huge aid to sprinters.  The secobd day will see both James Ellington and Jason Hussain of the Trackspeed1 squad contest separate 200m competitions.

Meanwhile, in Greece, Dwayne Grant improved vastly from his season's opener in the USA at the beginning of the month with encouraging performances over both sprint distances.  He clocked 10.42 (wind +1.2) over 100m, and 21.13 (wind +1.4) over 200m, finishing third in both races.

DESTINATION: THE WORLD!

Trackspeed1 sprinters enjoyed an amazing opening day of their summer season today (Sunday 23rd) with success at home and abroad.

In Moscow, 16-year-old David Bolarinwa came within an inch of a second gold medal in three days, eventually finishing second in the 200m at the European Youth Olympics, clocking a lifetime's fastest 21.49s.

Meanwhile, back home, James Ellington opened his account at the Loughborough International meeting with his fastest ever 100m of 10.22s, albeit slightly wind aided (+2.5m/s).  Later he was awarded second leg for England seniors who proceeded to beat the Great Britain 4 x 100m relay team.

Also in action at Loughborough was Trackspeed1's Jason Hussain, who signaled a return to form with 21.58s from lane one (wind +2.3m/s).

Coach John Powell was smiling all the way back to his hotel on the Moscow Metro:

"Make no mistake, there is alot more to come yet," he said, "and this is only the start.  We knew we had athletes in form, and we haven't even seen the likes of Dwayne Grant and others in action yet.

"David did outstandingly well in Moscow, and just couldn't quite catch the Pole outside him, but gold on Friday in the 100m added to this silver makes him arguably the highest achiever as an individual in a major championship this squad has seen!

"And James has far more in the tank - don't forget he finished second ahead of Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm, Nick Smith and others - real scalps!

"And people may not think that the 2008 nightmare that saw Jason Hussain undergo punishing chemotherapy is of any relevance now, but I can say from personal experience that it is!  It rips the body apart, and the fact that he has fought back to this kind of form in little more than 18 months is a massive compliment to an exceptionally determined athlete."

John Powell will have to budget carefully this year, as his squad could potentially be competing all over the world!  Barcelona sees the European Championships, and Singapore the World Youth Olympics, where David Bolarinwa is now officially selected in the 100 metres.

"I am immensely grateful to United Kingdom Athletics (Jo Jennings in particular) for helping me attend Moscow," he said, "but I now have to work out how I can afford to get myself potentially to the Far East as well as any other majors, not to mention domestic competitions all over the UK.  And if anyone gets selected for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi....!"

BOLARINWA TARGETS A EUROPEAN DOUBLE

Trackspeed1's David Bolarinwa is targeting a European double this weekend after successfully qualifying for the 200m final at the European Youth Olympics in Moscow.

After winning the 100m on Friday (21st) in a lifetime's fastest 10.68s, the latest young talent to emerge from Trackspeed1 is on the verge of a sensational double gold.

In the heats on Saturday evening, he clocked a winning 21.60s after a nightmare start.  Just as they came under starter's orders, an official realised the lanes had been re-drawn and insisted David and the Polish sprinter swapped places.  Not being allowed to properly re-set his blocks, the first 50m saw David trailing around the bend.

With three athletes clear he had it all to do, but a phenomenally strong pick-up toward the finish saw him emerge a clear winner.  The only other athlete faster than him was the Italian winner of heat one, clocking 21.57.

"It would certainly seem that tomorrow is a two-horse race," commented coach John Powell afterwards, "but the minute you exclude anyone as a threat is the day they decide to have a big break-through.  So we'll be aware of everyone, but as long as David runs the race to his plan, it is going to take a real talent to get to the line before him."

David's final goes at 4.30pm BST and is the last event of the tournament.  Afterwards he and his coach have to agree before leaving Moscow on which event he will opt for in the World Youth Olympics, in singapore, in August.

David (lane 4: 4th from left) digs deep after a nightmare start

 to win his 200m heat in Moscow

British team physiotherapist Shane Kelly helps 

David's 200m preparations in Moscow

BOLARINWA STRIKES GOLD IN MOSCOW

Trackspeed1 teenage sprint sensation, David Bolarinwa, struck gold for Britain in Moscow today (21st May), as he powered to the European Youth Olympic 100 metres title in a lifetime's best time.

David, whose heat time of 10.72s was the fastest qualifying mark, clocked 10.68s in near perfect conditions, beating the fastest athletes in Europe by some margin - second was a German competitor in 10.85s.

Celebrating the squad's first European Gold since Chris Lambert won the Under-23 200m title in 2003, coach John Powell was grinning from ear to ear:

"He didn't have the greatest of starts, and we have to work on that, but his transition and pick-up was absolutely awesome," he said.  "I'm delighted for him because he has worked hard for this, and it's a great springboard now for the rest of the season, let alone the years to come."

David will get little rest though - he goes again on Saturday (22nd) in the heats of the 200m, which are due off at 4.20pm BST.  The final is at 4.30pm BST on Sunday.

David celebrates gold on the rostrum with the other medalists

European Youth Olympic 100m Champion 

with a delighted coach, John Powell.