TRACKSPEED1 ON THE BRINK OF SPONSORSHIP!

Trackspeed1 sprints group, based at Crystal Palace, look poised to become the first British sprints group to land a sponsor.


John Powell declined to say who it was, but did admit to being really excited at the prospect of outside support at last relieving him of single handedly backing his squad.

"It's been tough, and this is the last year I can continue supporting my athletes personally, so the possibility of outside support is fantastic," he said.  "Combined with James Ellington's individual sponsor this year, it'a rhe best possible start to 2012 we could have dreamed of."

HUSSAIN A WINNER IN LONDON GAMES!

It may not be the biggest event of the year in the Capital, but for now Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain can look upon himself as a Games Champion in East London - which in 2012 is a pretty positive start to the year!

Jason (one from left) emerges victorious at the London Indoor Games

The 25-year-old Crawley AC speedster soared home to victory in the London Indoor Games today (January 28th) with a 200m time of 22.15s at Lee Valley Athletics Centre.  It wasn't his best ever - far from it - and technically it was not one of his better outings - but it produced a win that sends him into the final phase of winter training on a positive note.

"I've had a week out with flu, and before that had a ten-day layoff with a hamstring problem, and have only been back training a fortnight, so I'll take that," he said after the race.  His time is equivalent to performances a year ago when he was in better shape, and 2011 saw him end the summer with the fastest time of his life over the same distance outdoors!

"I have told my lot they can do what they like in January, but from next week we are back into winter training," said coach John Powell.  "As I've said many times - everything is much earlier this year because of the Olympics, and I for one am not going to be caught out with athletes lacking endurance in what will be the biggest year for track and field in UK history!"

In the same meeting, Trackspeed1 under-20 Omardo Anson proved to be the second fastest in the meeting as a junior, recording 22.80s in his race, despite sensing a tight hamstring half way round.

Omardo Anson is at his marks and ready to roll toward what was the
second fastest 200m mark by a junior at the London Indoor Games

"I couldn't open up properly on the back straight," he said afterwards, "and I didn't really attack the last bend as a result, but it was an ok run.  I ran 22.3 last year outdoors, so it's at least as good as that.  Running injury-free, I really hope this year will see a sub-22s run."

Omardo's success gave his coach extra satisfaction as an athlete recruited from his Met-Track scheme 18 months ago continues to progress in the sport.

"I have seen Omardo mature as a person as well as progress as an athlete," said John, "and that is massive job satisfaction for me."

Day two of the Games could see the action step up as James Ellington takes to the boards once more with the 60m tomorrow (Sunday 29th), along with Trackspeed1 sprinters Alex Ojo, David Bolarinwa, Kieran Daly, and others.

Jason Hussain is set to go at Lee Valley!

ELLINGTON IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE

James Ellington ended an amazing week on Sunday with four top class runs as he opened his brief indoor campaign at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, London.

James with his South of England bronze medal at Lee Valley

Competing in the South Of England Championships, he posted four performances underlining that, even at this early stage in 2012, he is in the form of his life.  In the semi-finals he ran 6.69s - equal to his lifetime fastest over 60 metres - before going on to cement that with 6.70s in the final to take joint third and a bronze medal.

The competition opened with a first round win in 7.03s run in a style so relaxed that both athlete and his coach John Powell drew breath at the ease with which he decimated the rest of the field.  The second round was significantly faster with a 6.77s run winning that race too, with the series amounting to the best opening to an indoor season of his life.

Earlier in the week, James had been celebrating landing sponsor King of Shaves after the publicity around his attempt at attracting support through E-Bay stalled, and had again been the centre of significant worldwide media attention.

"James has had one hell of a week," said John Powell after the Lee Valley event.  "His interviews have been beamed all over the globe after a totally innovative approach to getting support through E-Bay.  He now has his sponsor and he is already justifying their support in showing world class potential at Lee valley.

"The guys he was running against had mostly been running indoors already and had already been posting some impressive times.  this was James's first outing, and to be rubbing shoulders with his personal best first time out is simply astounding."

Training colleagues of James in his Trackspeed1 squad were mostly all in action at the same meeting with mixed fortunes.  Outstanding individual of the day though was 19-year-old Kieran Daley, who ran a lifetime's best 60m of 6.96s - shaving over a tenth of a second off his best time of the 2011 indoor campaign.

Andrew Matthews enjoyed an encouraging opening to his season with first and second round 6.95s and  6.87s runs, but earned a roasting from his coach as he pulled up in the last 10 metres of the semi as he slipped out of the top two qualifying places!

Another athlete who was given the benefit of his coach's advice was David Bolarinwa, whose heat performance of 6.91s looked very impressive indeed.  But in the second round, he false started and was immediately disqualified.

"There were aspects of his heat performance which, combined with a false start, which is unacceptable from an experienced international, that I felt were learning opportunities.  He's competing again at the same venue on Sunday in the London Indoor games, and I suspect things will be rather different there!"

ELLINGTON SUCCEEDS BY HIS WHISKERS!

James gets the expert treatment from new sponsors 'King of Shaves, with
CEO and Founder, Will King, giving a quick demonstration!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington's attempts at auctioning himself on E-Bay in a desperate bid to secure sponsorship failed - but at the last minute, shaving products conglomerate King of Shaves came to the rescue.


The bid of well over the reserve price on E-Bay was revealed to be someone from overseas who misunderstood the process, and they withdrew, leaving James back at square one.  But then came the sponsor who had for several years supported former Trackspeed1 sprinter and World Junior Championship 100m finalist Wade Bennett-Jackson.

James's story has been well documented in the media and has attracted world-wide interest.  Channel 4 News compiled the report which can be seen at Olympics hopeful Ellington's close shave after ebay bid
www.channel4.com 

Will King, CEO and founder of King of Shaves was delighted to support James, and was at the initial press launch of the deal at Crystal Palace track.  All sorts of corny photo's and remarks were bandered about, but the widest smile was from the athlete who can now properly concentrate on preparing for what will be a massive year in an already illustrious career.

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell watched the launch and spoke to Channel 4, along with a Reuters crew  a couple of days later:

"I am truly delighted for James, I really am," he said, "this deal has been a real life-shaver... sorry, saver!!  In all seriousness it takes the pressure right off an athlete's shoulders.  Always looking back at a depleting or near-empty bank balance, wondering where the money will come from to support travel, kit, equipment, you name it.  At least for this year, James has none of those worries to contend with.

"We are  exceptionally lucky in Trackspeed1 as we have a huge amount of good will from top therapists, Adidas who provide heavily discounted kit, and other sources who want to support us at home and abroad.  But bottom line if you want to compete with the best, you have to be fully supported."

Meanwhile back at the office, James opened up his active 2012 account in a slightly different way than usual, competing in the South of England AA indoor 400m at Lee Valley last Sunday (15th).  His 49.93s for the 2-lap sprint was an encouragement to his coach, although the semi-final saw him run out of steam on the final run-in.

"We aren't taking indoors particularly seriously this year, and most are only competing in January before getting back to a month or so of basics," he explained.  "Everything is early this year with Olympic Trials in June, so we have to make sure there is enough gas in the tank to sustain peaks at the right time this summer."

Further pictures from the press launch follow...

 

James partners CEO Will King for his photo-shoot and press interviews, with mother Andrea joining him for a chat with Channel 4.

POWELL TO CARRY OLYMPIC TORCH

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell will carry the Olympic Torch

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell rounded off an amazing week last week as he learned that he had been provisionally awarded  a leg in the Olympic Torch Relay.

John was one of the first 29 people to be notified of what will be a huge honour - to become one of the 8000 people in the UK to see the Olympic Flame safely around its journey to the Olympic Park.

John's leg will be on Monday 23rd July somewhere between Lewisham and Wandsworth, South London.  Talkiong about his nomination at the weekend, John confessd to have been nkocked for six when he received the email:

"I couldn't believe it," he said, "I knew I had been short-listed, but the odds were given as something like one in 16, so I had actually forgotten about the whole thing.  When I got the email I had to read it twice to actually take it in.

"It's amazing - to be part of something so massive as the London Olympics as a Torch Bearer is something for the family album, the grand-kids, you name it.  It will be an experience I will never forget, I am sure."

Croydon Physiotherapist Tim Allardyce nominated John in the first place - unbeknown to the 53-year-old sprits coach - citing John's suport for athletes over the years, set against the background of his full-time career as a senior London cop, and potential fatal illness some 20 years ago.  Tim said:

"I nominated John for dedicating his life into developing some of the top sprinters in the UK.  He gives an enormous amount of time to these London-based athletes, and this gives them huge opportunities to succeed in life, let alone on the track."

"Tim is a first class physio' who has been helping my athletes ever since he set up in business in Addington," said John, "and I'm not just saying that because of all this.  He has rehabilitated many injuries over the years, and even part-sponsored European Junior 200m Champion David Bolarinwa last year".

Visit Tim's website at www.croydonphysio.co.uk

JOHN POWELL GAINS FIRST EVER ATHLETICS AWARD

John Powell received his 'Services to Coaching award at London's
City Hall last night (8th December) from Tony Shiret

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell may have been coaching since the age of 17, some 35 years ago, but offficial recognition of his commitment to the sport he has served for over 3 decades has, incredibly, evaded him - until now.

In City Hall, London, last night, John picked up the 2011 'Services to Coaching' award presented by England Athletics / London Region, for his outstanding achievements during 2011 and before.

The ceremony, held in the iconic venue overlooking Tower Bridge, acknowledged John's exceptional contribution to literally hundreds of young and senior sportsmen and women across well over three decades.

The award was presented by Tony Shiret, of England Athletics, after a long citation was read detailing John's commitment to the sport, but most importantly the athletes he has coached.  

Organising trips abroad, coordinating multi-event training schedules, networking with coaches all over the world, his lasting links at Harvard University, and a cast list the length of your arm in terms of the athletes he has coached, all combined to support the award.  And of course 2011 itself had been one of his group's most successful to date.

The nomination had been made by Trackspeed1 quarter miler Matt Threadgold, currently studying at Loughborough University.  "I was pleased to do it," he said.  "John is a great coach and organiser.  Trips to competitions as well as training and other forays over to the States are organised down to the finest detail, and his coaching skills are underlined with the results he gets from his athletes."

ELLINGTON FOR SALE !

James makes his point - no kit deal, no sponsorship, and yet he's a
world class sprinter!  Why?  Read on...

It's been the talk of today (Weds 7/12/11), and will probably be the talk of tomorrow for some time to come - Trackspeed1's World Championship Sprinter James Ellington is up for sale to the highest bidder!

As the only leading British International sprinter without an endorsement or sponsor, let alone kit contract, he has taken the unique step of putting himself on E-Bay with a reserve price of £30,000.  The idea is that a company wanting to support the 2012 Olympic hopeful, make a bid for a talented sportsman who will display and support their brand.

The whole concept is well documented in the media - and you can have a look at his website as well at www.jamesellington.net, including the national press (see The Sun / Mail sports pages, Metro page 9 today, and probably many more!)

James poses for the national media at Crystal Palace as news of his E-Bay
bidding initiative breaks!

And the initial news is spectacular, as it appears there has been huge interest generated as the 26-year-old south east Londoner tours the media today, ranging from Breakfast TV to TalkSport radio and BBC / ITV / Sky News slots.  He has certainly grasped the imagination of a lot of people!

"This is absolutely brilliant news," commented coach John Powell, who himself took part in the media launch at Crystal Palace yesterday.  "James has got to where he is through simple hard graft and determination, unlike man of his supported rivals, all of whom have kit deals and, in some cases, several other endorsements.

"He has a mortgage to pay like everyone else, and a family to support.  He cannot be expected to fulfil his potential as an Olympic athlete training full time if he has no income.  All he earns at present is a pittance from my Met-Track scheme."

James ended a spectacular 2011 season with lifetime best times in both 100m and 200m sprints, and was the fastest Briton over 200m without the assistance of an altitude venue.  Competing in his first ever World Championships in 2011 lines him up as one of TeamGB's principal hopes for sprint glory in East London next Summer.

James is interviewed by the Daily Mail's Neil Wilson at a very chilly
Crystal Palace yesterday!

James is interviewed by national television

James Ellington - no kit deal and no sponsor - yet!

2012: POWELL'S YEAR?

It's been an eventful Autumn for Trackspeed1 coach John Powell already with his career as a Police Superintendent now officially at a close!


Powell, 53 next month, retired from his 30-year career on October 30th to concentrate fully on maximising his squad's potential this next year, as well as prepare for significant developments on the home front.

"The group are going very well in the albeit very early stages of winter," said John, "and the focus and determination in the squad has never been greater.

"It's encouraging, but nobody is getting carried away yet - there is alot of work between us now and the 2012 summer season."

On the personal front, John is working hard at home to prepare for his new arrival due in February.  Powell Junior in the form of Jasmine Ellen is due on 18th February, and will add to a year already crammed with action and excitement.

"I still can't quite believe it," he said, "but obviously I'm thrilled.  The balance between coaching and being a dad again shouldn't be too much of an issue - my wife and I have discussed that at length.  I think the biggest challenge will be going to America for warm weather training again only 6 weeks after she is due to be born.

"I'll miss her big time, but that's the way it's got to be if we are to get the best out of everyone.  It's my job now, albeit unpaid, so I want to make 2012 the most amazing year ever for Trackspeed1!"

Potentially it could be a massive year for Trackspeed1.  James Ellington is totally focussed on making the British Olympic team, and Jason Hussain is hoping he might make London 2012 wearing the colours of Pakistan, taking advantage of his father's birthplace.

"James is a very determined young man this time round," commented John, "and it will take an awful lot next year to deny him an individual berth in the Olympic Games.  Jason is also slowly getting into shape, and if he can get cleared to represent his father's native country, that will be an amazing experience for him."

In addition, European Junior Champion David Bolarinwa will be looking to make an impression at the World Junior Championships, in Barcelona, along with potentially Omari Carr-Miller, while who John describes as one or two "dark horses" could pull a few surprises if early promise turns into summer success!

"The atmosphere amongst the squad is completely different this year, and a huge improvement on 2010-11," said Greg Funnell, one of the squad therapists.  "I really do believe the group could perform very well next year - everyone really does seem very determined to achieve their goals."

HARVARD LINKS STILL GOING STRONG

European Junior 200m Champion David Bolarinwa has kicked off his winter in style with excellent progress already, reports Trackspeed1 coach John Powell, and both have now flown to East Coast America for a few days to continue early winter training.

They are based in Boston, where John is further developing his contacts in Harvard University, at the same time availing the five star facilities to David as a brief change from his usual surroundings at Crystal Palace.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for David to see an American University and how they work, as well as enjoy some pretty special facilities,” said John.  “This is going to be a critical development year for David, and he needs to expand his horizons wherever possible.

"We've already had a shock running into former AAA 800m champion Tim Bayley, who is working with his wife at Harvard.  Talk about small world!  They have a great team here, and it's a great opportunity to network with coaches their side of the Atlantic and take new ideas home."

David attacks one of the local challenges in Harvard's football stadium

 David’s first impressions of Boston were very positive, although both athlete and coach were taken a little by surprise by the freezing temperatures and driving rain and eventual sleet and snow on arrival on Saturday:

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,” said David, “as I have never been anywhere in the States other than warm weather training in Florida.  Boston is a great city, and I’m looking forward to getting around the Harvard complex and seeing as much of one of the best universities in the world as possible.”

David has already kicked off his training at Harvard in style, attacking one of the big local challenges.  The university’s American Football stadium houses some evil steps, and sprinting up these is a challenge failed by many.

Harvard's football stadium steps present a massive challenge to even
the fittest athletes!

 “It was a seriously tough session,” said David.  “I didn’t go all the way round the stadium, but I was on my last legs at the end after three sets of the first eight aisles – that was enough for me!”

David has also been reunited with Harvard staff including Harvard sprints coach Bryan Fetzer, whom he met during international duty in July in Germany.  He is also getting access to the exclusive strength and conditioning facility that is revered as one of the best in the world at Harvard.  


Coach and athlete fly back to the UK on Friday (4^th)

BACK TO THE GRIND!

Trackspeed1 return to full squad training tomorrow (Sunday 9th) and begin their preparation for what is likely to be the most high profile year for track and field in the UK in hstory!

The glory of the World Championships in Korea for James Ellington, the slitz of three medals in the European Juniors for David Bolarinwa, now fade as yesteryear's statistics, as the heat is on for a massive year for athletics.

The business starts with a basic fitness test to see what sort of shape the squad have got themselves into without the guidance of coach John Powell.  Then on Tuesday its back to the basics with conditioning sessions based on grass, astroturf, and the winding hill that hugs the outside boundary of Crystal Palace.

Trackspeed1 coach, John Powell: "2012 is going to be massive...!"

"I don't think people, even in track and field, quite realise just how massive a year it is going to be in 2012," said John Powell.  "It's not just for the likes of James who should be running in the Olympics, and David who should be right up there in the World Junior Championships, in Barcelona - it's everyone!

"Track and field is the high profile sport at an Olympic Games, and the fact it is this time in our own back yard, I believe, will be the source of huge motivation to people, and everyone will want a slice of the action.  If it's managed right - and that is in my opinion still an 'if' - that L-word, 'Legacy', could play a far bigger part than anyone might have imagined."

As usual, there have been changes to the Trackspeed1 landscape since the end of the 2011 summer.  Lawrence Wooldridge has left the group, former squad member Andrew Matthews has come in, and John is now talking to an international class 400/hurdler who is looking to hop in from later this week.

"I'm irritated  that Lawrence chose to leave," commented John, "as he told me before I went away he was staying, and then I get an email out of the blue.  Heaven knows what he is looking for elsewhere, so I just hope he finds the magic wand!

"On the other hand, we are delighted to have Andrew back with us after a spell with Linford Christie.   His PB is still a performance achieved whilst last with us, and it would be terrific to get him back to that sort of form.  And if this other lad comes in to join the 400m group the likes of Omari Carr-Miller, Jason Hussain and others will have a great little squad to push them through the cold months."

On the coaching side, John has the assistance of English Schools 100m bronze medalist Anton Daley as he recovers over coming months from major back surgery, and another ex-athlete is in talks with the squad with a view to both starting up training again as well as joining John in a coaching role.