ELLINGTON IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE

Trackspeed1's James Ellington made a very clear declaration of intent at the London Indoor Games on Sunday (30th January) as he powered to a lifetime's fastest 6.70m 60m sprint.

He left in his wake some of the most established British International sprinters, including Harry Aikines Arieetyey and Craig Pickering, as he made it clear his intentions with the European Championships in Paris in the not-so-distant horizon in March.

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Ellington''s first round 6.74s run - his second fastest ever over the distance, was a warning to his rivals that he is well and truly back from the serious hamstring injury last June that threatened his career, and the under-23 European gold medalist lived up to expectations in round two with a superb lifetime's best 6.70s performance.

Coach John Powell was of course delighted with his protegee's efforts, and was quick to highlight that his achievements had been reached the hard way:

"James has been off funding and any kind of support for years," said Powell, "and he has had to fight back to form without any kind of support.  The athletes who have had medical and financial support throughout recent years were staring at his backside this afternoon, and that is a very satisfying feeling!

"James is a world class athlete, and he is on the brink of proving that.  He ripped his hamstring last June and we were all terrified that it might just be a step too far to come back from, but James is one of the most determined athletes I have ever coached.  He rightly has immense self belief, and he has massive talent, and is potentially one of the most under-estimated athletes in track and field." 

Catford-born Ellington, now living in Addiscombe, Croydon, recently became a father and had 3-month-old daughter India at the Lee Valley complex for moral support, along with other family members.

"James has had a massive few months," said John Powell.  "He has become a dad for the first time (and boy, has he taken to that well) and he has got back from a potentially career-terminating hamstring injury to the form of his life.  I've been working with him for all but 2 years of the last 12, and seeing him at last break through to the senior elite where he belongs will mean the world to me, let alone himself."

Trackspeed1 sprinters in action at Lee Valley chalked up further lifetime bests (see rankings lists on this website).  Jason Hussain shaved a hundredth off his fastest ever 60m with 7.11s, while Omardo Anson put the jet lag of his return from the States a few days earlier behind him to equal his best ever 60m mark of 7.05s.

On day one, Omari Carr-Miller fluffed his lines on the second lap of his 400m event, getting boxed in for much of the second half of his race, but still managed to squeeze home in a lifetime's fastest indoor time of 50.89s.

"Apart from the injuries we have suffered, this has been a superb indoor season so far," said Powell.  I just wish that those of our lads who have learned life the hard way could have been part of this season.  The likes of Tunde Judun, Edmond Amaning, David Bolarinwa, and Ellis Zorro could have combined to make this an absolutely amazing winter season.

"One day," he continued, "athletes will realize (maybe!) that conditioning and strength work really are essential in preventing injury and preparing an athlete to run fast, especially during the cold winter months.  But we have a fantastic squad, and I just know that, in 2011, we are going to seriously turn heads!"

The next significant date in the Trackspeed1 diary is the European Indoor Championship Trials, i Sheffield, in 2 weeks' time on February 12/13th, when the likes of James Ellington, Dwayne Grant, Jason Hussain, Lawrence Wooldridge and others will be in action.

TRACKSPEED1 PAIR IMPRESS STATESIDE

Two Trackspeed1 athletes fly back over the Atlantic this week after highly satisfactory competitive debuts on the indoor circuit in America.

Omari Carr-Miller (yellow top) is pipped for first at the Harvard
University indoor track meeting in the U.S. on Sunday (23rd)

Both Omari Carr-Miller (16) and Omardo Anson (17) brushed aside senior men's opposition at the annual Boston Track Club Invitational meet, at Harvard University.

While temperatures plummeted to minus 18 outside, the British pair were in red hot form inside on a circuit not known for producing fast times.

In the 400m Omari finished second of an overall field of 55 athletes, clocking his second-fastest ever time indoors of 51.14s.  He found himself behind at the bell, but implemented his coach's instructions perfectly with a brisk overtake on the back straight to lead into the final bend.  He was caught only in the final 20m home stretch.

Omardo Anson was taking part in his second ever track meeting, having joined Trackspeed1 in the Autumn after referral from John Powell's Met-Track scheme.  His first ever trip around 200m indoors resulted in a superb 22.72 second effort, beaten only by one athlete who ran in a different heat.

Omardo also contested the 60m, but clocked a disappointing 7.23s.  Although he won his heat, he was adjudged to have been two one thousandths of a second slower than the eighth fastest man, and hence missed out on the opportunity to rectify things with a second outing in the lunchtime final.

Omardo Anson at his marks in the 200m.  These meetings in the
United States don't allow the use of blocks , making his performance
all the more impressive!

"Omardo is developing fast," said coach John Powell, "and he is definitely a prospect for the future.  He needs alot more experience though, and needs also to develop his all-round strength, but all that will come in time.

"Omari ran a virtually perfect race tactically.  He didn't panic when he couldn't quite get the lead at the bell, and bided his time until the back straight.  But I think that overtake, combined with a draw in lane 2 on the first lap, drained him a little, and he got overhauled just short of the line.  It was a great run though."

POWELL'S STATESIDE WARNING AS INJURIES MOUNT

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has fired a fierce warning to his athletes 4000 miles across the Atlantic from his current Boston base.

As news reached him of another injury to one of his sprinters, he again repeated what he has been warning all winter – condition or take the consequences!

John Powell at Harvard University track with former Trackspeed1 and
Harvard graduate, Chris Lambert's, record marks proudly etched on
their history board.

Edmond Amaning is the latest TS1 sprinter to injure his hamstring and early indications are that the recovery period could be quite lengthy. 

“Edmond has opted out of gym work for reasons best known to himself,” said Powell, “and this is despite almost weekly warnings, and examples like David Bolarinwa who also suffered an injury recently.  I fail to see what else I have to do to get the message across.  The level these guys want to train at demands a high level of basic fitness, and a strong body.  Without that, the risks of injury are sky high.”

Powell hopes to arrange an urgent assessment for Amaning so as to minimise the length of time he will need to rehabilitate but, whilst some athletes are going from strength to strength as the indoor season gets into full swing, the TS1 injury list gets no shorter.

Currently David Bolarinwa is approaching a rapid return to full fitness after a hamstring problem, but Ellis Zorro (hamstring), and Edmond Amaning have prematurely terminated their indoor competition plans. 

Other athletes who have been on the injured list over the past month or so include Ellie Doel, Tunde Judun, and Kwame Francis, with Tunde still facing a lengthy course of rehabilitation before he can resume full training.

On the positive side, though, Trackspeed1’s overall indoor picture is a positive one.  Medals or PB’s for Lawrence Wooldridge, Jason Hussain, Samuel Adeyemi, Kieron Daley and Anton Daley sparked success on day one of the indoor season, while James Ellington, Dwayne Grant, and Danny Doyley all gave indications of their capabilities over the next few weeks.

South of England Champion Anton Daley is back in action this weekend at Lee Valley in the London Indoor Games agegroup event, while most of the rest of the squad compete in the senior events next weekend 29/30^th January.

Omari Carr-Miller (left) and Omardo Anson are with coach John Powell
at Harvard University, USA this week.

Stateside, John Powell is reviving his relationship with Harvard University again, with TS1 members Omardo Anson and Omari Carr-Miller.  Both have trained at the university’s six-star indoor facility, while Omari has been hosted as a potential student in two years’ time.  This Sunday they both compete in the Boston Track Club's meeting, at Harvard, where Omardo will contest the 60m and 200m, while Omari runs in the 200m and 400m.  They return to the UK on Tuesday.

DALEY CALMS POWELL FURY

The youngest sprinter in Trackspeed1's ranks this year had the last say at the South of England AA indoor Championships at the weekend as the squad underlined their massive potential this year.

Anton groups together with fellow medalists
 after his 60m victory

The 16-year-old Blackheath and Bromley Harrier shattered his previous lifetime best over 60 metres of 7.37 with a golden 7.12s performance, which saw him on top of the rostrum as under-17 Champion, at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.  But it was not without controversy.

Coach John Powell let rip at the starting team after a fifth false start was ignored, and all but cost Daley his title.  And that was after they had wrongly disqualified James Ellington in the senior semi finals as it was seen on film afterwards that the athlete next to him was the first to move!

"Either there was an eyesight problem in the senior race, or there was at the very least doubt," said Powell, "and they red carded the wrong athlete.  Unless they are convinced, they should not red card anyone.  I thought it was James, I must admit, but I was miles away, and the film afterwards was conclusive.  In the under-17 final even other officials agreed it was a false start, meaning rank incompetence almost destroyed a 16-year-old's dreams."

Anton proudly displays his gold medal after becoming the
fastest under-17 60m sprinter in the UK this year.

Daley's elder brother Kieron (18) also dismissed his lifetime best over 60m of 7.23, with a fine 7.15 in the semi-final of the under-20's event.

Also in the under-20's Omardo Anson celebrated his first ever competition in the sport with a 7.05s best time over the three rounds, with fifth place in the final at the close.  Having been recruited through his coach's Met-Track scheme, he immediately placed himself as yet another real future prospect to watch as he develops as an athlete.

The senior races looked as if they could see three Trackspeed1 representatives in the final after three first places in the first round.  It wasn't to be, although there was some pretty nifty running anyway.  Danny Doyley raced for the first time in almost two years clocking a modest 7.01s narrowly missing out on a semi-final place, while Dwayne Grant made the final, but unfortunately failed to make an impression with a mysteriously sudden loss of form.

James Ellington was recognised as the in-form athlete though, and his 6.82s second round performance was one of the fastest times of the day.

"James is in form and he knows it," said Powell, "and he was running with a streaming cold anyway, but he will take alot of beating this year under normal circumstances.  He is a class act and is bang on target for a really good year.  Dwayne has been training like a man possessed, and I'm really not sure what went wrong in the final, but he and I and everyone knows he is worth far far better than his final suggested."

Ellington reduced his 100m time to 10.23s last summer but tore a hamstring in the process, which terminated his season before it had really begun.   Since that travesty, the 25-year-old who has just switched clubs from Belgrave to Newham, and who became a father for the first time in November, has been on a mission to prove himself - and on this showing, will do just that this year.

The other TS1 athlete in action in the 60m was Samuel Adeyemi, normally seen contesting the 400m, who ran a best ever 7.20s in the heats for the the third consecutive race!

Jason Hussain (left) and Lawrence Wooldridge grabbed two of the three
 medals in the 200m at Lee Valley on day 1.

In the 200m competitions, Lawrence Wooldridge impressed again after a superb lifetime best 400 a week earlier.  He took silver in the senior final ahead of training partner Jason Hussain in third.  He clocked his fastest ever indoor time of 21.82 with a classy performance that lines him up for further lifetime bests outdoors later this year.

Hussain was hugely impressive as he switched on the afterburners on the back straight in both heat and semi, but easing down in first place in the semi-final cost him a sub-22s time and a decent lane in the final.  He will be consoled, however, in the knowledge that he can run alot faster, and could end up with one of his fastest ever marks when he gets onto a faster track.

Overall it was a hugely positive weekend for Trackspeed1, topping off a great week for John Powell.  On Thursday he was confirmed as being in charge of the England team travelling to the indoor international in Linz, Austria, next month.

Additionally, there was terrific news on the injury front, with both David Bolarinwa and Tunde Judun recovering quickly from hamstring problems.

"David is back in training and is a really lucky boy having suffered the most minor of strains," said John, "and Tunde is now responding well to treatment.  We are indebted to Tim Allardyce and his Croydon Physiotherapy practice for doing a great job on both lads."

Bolarinwa, the fastest under-18 in the world last year, hopes to open his indoor account at the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley on January 30th.

Powell heads Stateside now for a week with Omardo Anson and Omari Carr-Miller to revive his Harvard University contacts and friends in Boston, but will be back in good time for the Lee Valley events on 29th and 30th January. 

TRACKSPEED1 FLY OUT OF THE BLOCKS

Trackspeed1 sprinters opened their 2011 account in style on Sunday (9th January) with a host of lifetime best performances in the opening indoor meetings of the year.


Every athlete bar two at the South of England 400m Championships, held at Lee Valley Athletic Centre, clocked lifetime best performances, giving coach John Powell a huge boost after the frustrations of both David Bolarinwa and Tunde Judun suffered hamstring injuries midweek.

Star of the show was Lawrence Wooldridge, whose senior men's 400m final time of 48.72 shattered his previous best of over 50 seconds indoors, and came close to his outdoor best mark of 48.2.  He finished fourth in a final that would have featured training partner Mark Brown, who decided against running after a 48.91s semi-final triggered niggles he didn't want to risk.

Omari Carr-Miller struck gold in the under-17 Men's 400m final at Lee Valley.

Sixteen-year-old Croydon Harrier Omari Carr-Miller struck gold in the under-17 400m with three convincing winning performances in heat, semi and final.  He clocked 52.47 in the heat, 51.51s in the semi-final, and won the title with a fine 51.00s run. although coach John Powell, hot-foot from his Charlton team's FA Cup defeat a mile up the road, was critical of his athlete's first lap:

"I would have liked to see "Omari get out alot faster," he said, " because he had it all to do on the back straight on lap two.  We've had a chat about fitness levels recently, an this just shows what he could achieve if he engaged with the gym side of training properly.  Omari is a real talent, but he has got to shake hands with hard work before he can expect to rub shoulders with the best around."

Elsewhere, 200m specialist Jason Hussain ran a creditable 50.65s 400m heat, although faded slightly in the semi to record 51.97, while Edmond Amaning timed 51.44s to finish third in his heat and qualify for the semi's.  He decided against competing further however, with a hamstring niggle.

In an open meeting at Windsor, Trackspeed1's Samuel Adeyemi recorded two 7.20s 60m sprints to shave further fractions off another personal best, although his specialist distance is 400m, with the Windsor outing merely an exercise to polish up on basic speed.

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was cautiously optimistic of his charges' prospects this winter:

"We suffered bad blows midweek," he said, "with both David and Tunde pulling hamstrings in circumstances that were entirely avoidable - I only hope that they learn from the experience!  I don't think Tunde will be running indoors this year, although David might make the agegroup nationals at the end of February if we can get him fit for at least one race before that, but I'll lose no sleep if he doesn't take part as I'd rather he was in shape for summer!

"The performances at Lee Valley were encouraging though.  Lawrence proved just what hard work can achieve, and underlined the total belief I have had in him as a really class act who hasn't come close to his real potential yet due to various reasons.  Omari ran well, although has much to learn about race tactics, and really must get into gym training after the indoor events conclude."

Next weekend (15/16th January) the rest of the squad spring into action, with the highlight of the second South of England Championship weekend centred around sprinters Dwayne Grant, James Ellington and Danny Doyley, with Jason Hussain again in action, along with Lawrence Wooldridge, Mark Brown and the squad's potential dark horse this year in the junior age-groups, Omardo Anson.

"Even without David and Tunde we have much to look forward to this winter," John continued, and anyone with a Trackspeed1 athlete in their heat next weekend will have good reason to be anxious!"

TRACKSPEED1 SET TO FLY !

According to coach John Powell, his squad are set to chalk up personal bests across the board this year - starting with the indoor season which begins this coming weekend at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

The last time a Trackspeed1 athlete graced the north London complex, David Bolarinwa set an under-18 world fastest 100m of 10.39, and so Powell is hoping his other charges will take up where he left off.

This weekend (Sunday 9th) the 400m athletes take to the boards in the South of England Championships, when Mark Brown, Matt Threadgold, Jason Hussain and Omari Carr-Miller will be among the Crystal Palace-based squad's representatives at the winter's first major meeting.

"We have really prepared the hard way," said Powell, "with the weather making Crystal Palace seemedly one of the coldest places on earth!  I've got to say Greenwich Leisure actually made some efforts to clear the track of snow this year, and we're hugely grateful for that, but even indoors it has been freezing cold.  And the nearest warm indoor facility is Sutton which is a real mission to get to!

"I've had some stern word with the group this year - we have a fair bit of international experience in the squad, but there are also alot of new youngsters, and they need to learn that joining this group does not in itself guarantee success.  Reyss Albert has agreed to leave by mutual consent, and there are likely to be others unless they up their game, but the vast majority are nevertheless lining themselves up for some great performances."

A week after the 400m athletes get off the mark, the sprinters - the real speed merchants - will launch their indoor campaign at the ma9n championship weekend for the South of England AA, again at Lee Valley.  At that meeting, the likes of James Ellington, Dwayne Grant and David Bolarinwa will test out their winter efforts to date.

"We have a couple of dark horses too this year," said Powell, and that statement should send shivers down the spine of other athletes who will know that Trackspeed1 have a habit of churning out previously unheard of talent.

"I'm not going to put pressure on individuals buy naming names," said Powell, "but there is talent in the group, and I do hope there can be a glimmer of that shown during the indoor season this year."

TRACKSPEED1 SNOWBOUND!

For the first time in his 35-year coaching career, Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has been forced to cancel squad training for two successive sessions due to the freak weather conditions enveloping the south east.

Almost 18 inches of snow around his home would not ever be a problem, but no trains runing on Southeastern, buses on severely restricted services, roads being lethal for driving, and the threat of worse to come, all make it nonsensical to attempt to reach Crystal palace.

"Crystal Palace is closed tonight anyway," said John, "and getting there right now is a virtual impossibility.  This is really bad news for us with an indoor season just around the corner.  I can only hope that the athletes can do something at home or near home to keep things ticking over for now.

"We intend to have a session at Crystal Palace at 12 noon on Sunday unless things worsen, but we can only pray they don't - even then we will be restricted to an indoor track 80 metres long - the outdoor track is never cleared of snow and will probably be out of commission for another week at least."

Meanwhile, Trackspeed1 athletes are asked by their coach to keep an eye on their mobiles for updates by text.  If they haven't been receiving these then they should let John know their correct mobile number.  A final decision on Sunday will be circulated on Saturday.

The Crystal Palace outdoor track is never cleared of snow and is likely
 to remain unusable to Trackspeed1 and the many other athletes whose
training base it is for many days to come.  Coach John Powell described
the situation as "shambolic" and "endemic of the attitude to athletics in
this country...  We produce international standard athletes every year
despite training in a sub-standard facility, but this really doesn't make
life any easier."

TRACKSPEED1 ATHLETES RANKED AMONG THE ALL-TIME BEST

Trackspeed1 sprinter Chris Lambert, who dominated many of the athletics headlines earlier in the last decade, gains ninth spot n the all-time best UK 200m performances this week.

Lambert, an Olympian whose career arguably peaked in 2003 when he won gold in the Wolrd Student Championships, and double gold in the Europen under-23 Championships, still holds the event record for the latter event with his blistering 20.34s 200m effort in Poland that year.

"I remember the race as if it were yesterday," said coach John Powell.  "Chris came off the bend in fifth, but simply switched on the after-burners in the straight.  The Polish crowd were on their feet screaming, with local boy Jedrusinski in the lead.

"Chris out-dipped him on the line though, and the whole stadium fell silent as I screamed 'yes' - instantly regretting a sudden and unwanted focus of attention in my direction!"

Elsewhere in the hall of fame published in Athletics Weekly this week is under-17 sprinter david Bolarinwa, who streaks away at the top of the UK national rankings for both 100m and 200m.  He sits at the head of the 100m lists with his world under-18 leading time of 10.39s - some four tenths of a second off the next best electronic and wind-legal performance.

In the 200m his best of 21.17s this year leads from second-ranked 21.77 - a huge margin, which establishes him as the sprints prospect coming through the ranks for future years.

Placed 11th in the U17 400m lists is 15-year-old Omari Carr-Miller, whose 49.60s lap took him to sixth in the national schools final, despite being amongst opponents over a year his elder.  This was an especially impressive performance as he spent most of the winter laid up with a stress fracture in one shin.  His rehabilitation was decribed by John Powell as one of the most frustrating possible for a keen teenager.  "His resolve throughout was commendable", he said.

Elsewhere in the under-17 list can be found newcomers to Trackspeed1 this winter, including Edmond Amaning who sits in fifth spot over 200m with 21.94s (21.84 windy), and Tunde Judun who sits in 11th place in the 100m lists with a best of 10.92s (10.81 windy).

"There's a great job been done with these athletes to date," said John Powell, "and I only hope we can continue that with progress to new highs next year."

Lambert has since been dogged by injury after injury and has retired from the sport.  Even his appearance in the Athens Olympics ended in tears when he pulled up with hamstring trouble.  But with the other Trackspeed1 athletes, the future looks as bright as ever.  Combine them with the likes of senior training partners Dwayne Grant and James Ellington to name but two, and one might reasonably expect a few more headlines in 2011 !

"TRACKSPEED1 COULD BE BEST EVER"!

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has had a fortnight to see his enlarged and diverse squad of athletes for 2011 back in training, and he is already wondering whether 2011 could just be the strongest year ever!

"I have taken on a few more athletes than I had intended, but the group is gelling really well.  The seniors mentor the younger athletes, and the general environment is really upbeat and positive.  People are willing to really work hard, which at this stage of the game is vital if you are to have half a chance in the New Year."

The squad include a number of new international standard athletes as well as developing youngsters, not forgetting the existing elite achievers like James Ellington, the 2010 UK number 3 over 100m, and the World's fastest under-18, David Bolarinwa, who only turned 17 last week.

"Of the new guys there are still one or two whose life in the group could be quite short if they don't wake up to the reality of hard work," John continued, "but we have some real workers too.

"Ellis Zorro works hard, and twins Kieron and Anton Daly are grafters, as is Joshua Atille, and Edmond Amaning is really impressive.  We are also delighted to see that Lawrence Wooldridge was able to adjust his working routine to join us after all - a 21.5 200m athlete is always going to be a positive addition to the existing clan of Hussain, Grant, Ellington, Bolarinwa and others, even if there are a few tenths to make up on paper!

Lucozade testing session sets the standard
Trackspeed1's new-found partnership with Lucozade saw Sports Scientist Joel Enoch carry out a number of base level tests at Crystal Palace today (Sunday 24th October), which will be repeated throughout the winter months into next season.

The tests were for reaction time out of blocks and speed / acceleration over 30m.  Then there were jump tests to assess power.  The results will be used to compare progress through the squad training programme this winter, and will highlight areas that might need additional attention.

"We are delighted to be working with Lucozade," said John Powell, "it is a unique opportunity for everyone, and has already produced some fascinating data.

James Ellington was unsurprisingly the strongest statistically, with Danny Doyley just behind, but the newest recruit to the squad, currently on a month's trial, was the youngster who caught Joel's eye.  Omardo Anson (17) was referred from John Powell's Met-Track scheme and, although very raw in terms of experience, produced one of the most impressive sets of statistics overall.

"He's a very very raw talent," said John, "and he did a totally unconventional start for the runs.  That alone will improve him further.  It will certainly be interesting to see how he goes."

TRACKSPEED1 READY FOR LIFT OFF !

The preliminaries are over, the new guys have been briefed and, despite a slight alteration to the start date, this weekend sees the new Trackspeed1 squad for this winter swing back into action.

The group will reconvene at Crystal Palace on Sunday (October 10th) when every athlete will be put through a rigorous fitness test to assess just how well their preparation training has gone.

"There's no messing around this year," said coach John Powell, " I am absolutely not interested in anyone who is not willing to put the work in.  If I can get up at 5am to go to work in order to ensure I can make training, the least my athletes can do is apply themselves to the job in hand."

Talking of the new faces who have joined the group, John was extremely upbeat about their prospects, but lamented what he referred to as the "usual gossip" about how they came to join the squad:

"I haven't taken on anyone who I do not believe 100 per cent can improve with our training regime - what would be the point?  There's been the usual banter though about athletes moving around between coaches this summer, but I sleep easy at night - every one of the new athletes to Trackspeed1 approached us first, and not the other way round.

"It's never pleasant losing an athlete to another coach (heaven knows, I do know!) but you have to move on - no coach owns an athlete and if the athlete wants to move on there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."

Mark Brown rejoins Trackspeed1 for the coming winter.

John was especially delighted that former Trackspeed1 400m sprinter Mark Brown has returned to the squad after a 2-year absence.  His personal best of 46.3 back in 2008 he hasn't come close to since, and is now hoping that he can rekindle the form that brought him to within one trial race of a place in the Beijing Olympic Games.