EDMOND SOUNDS HIS BATTLE CRY

Trackspeed1 UK's Edmond Amaning kicked his season off in style today (Saturday 25/5) with two gold medals, two personal bests, and a battle cry that will put the sprints world on alert!

Competing in the Middlesex County Championships, at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, Edmond secured gold in both 100m and 200m, cracking lifetime best marks in both events in the process!

Edmond Amaning (right) on his way to 200m gold

The 100m came first, and a pedestrian 10.86s heat demolished the opposition despite a helpful following wind, but the final saw him switch into overdrive.

Running 10.44s took him to a new lifetime best mark, and saw the rest of the field trailing in behind.  As his number two event, it was a more than encouraging start for both athlete and coach, John Powell.

In the 200m later the same day, Edmond opened up with a 22.0s hand-timed performance that saw the rest of the field trying in vein to cling on to his shirt tails.  This time there was no following wind, but that was academic as Edmond proved he was in a different class to the rest.

There was little doubt a to the ultimate result, and the only issue was how fast he would run.  In the event, he won the final in 21.10s - just inside his 2012 personal best mark of 21.13 to complete a highly satisfactory first day of the 2013 outdoor season.

Competing in the same meeting, Trackspeed1 UK's Nathan Gilbert was contesting the under-20 men's 100m, and he too left with a medal around his neck.

After a miserable last 2 months of winter that saw a hamstring injury refuse to budge as it should have done, and a warm weather training trip in the States where he could barely run close to flat out, personal best times were not a priority.  But that is exactly what he produced!

In the heat he was aided by a following wind of +3.9 to cross the line in 10.82s, but in the final that abated to +2.4 when he timed a fastest ever 10.73s to silver.

"The wind may not have been quite legal in the final," said coach John Powell, "but he was way ahead of his 10.9+ PB from last tear and it won;t have helped him that much.

"Overall it was a great first day for both athletes and I am very proud of their efforts.  We have to move on though, and we will need more from both lads if they are to come close to their personal goals for 2013."

SPRINTERS HEAD HOME

Trackspeed1 UK's longest pre-season training camp, in Florida, USA, ends this week as the squad head homeward after what coach John Powell described as "by and large a pretty solid trip consisting of some pretty impressive focus and hard work!"

Apart from this who have already stretched their legs in either Gainesville or Orlando at US meetings, Trackspeed1 UK athletes have a varied race plan this year, and are looking to open up their summer programme at various stages this month.

Currently, Julian Thomas intends to begin his 2013 campaign in Lockeren, Belgium, on May 19th, whilst England 200m Champion Edmond Amaning will probably wait for the Middlesex County Championships at the end of the month to begin his campaign.

Former European under-23 400m hurdles champion, Lloyd Gumbs, may well use the Loughborough international meeting to launch his attack on his specialist 400 m hurdles event, while training partner Matthew Sinclair will be hoping to be at the same venue in the 400m.

Kieran Daly, described as a real dark horse this year by his coach, picked up a groin strain in Florida, and is leaving his campaign until the end of this month, but fellow sprinter, 16-year-old Frederick Afrifa, may be flying to his native Italy to compete in a youth meeting in Bressanone on Saturday 18th.

"Everyone who travelled to the US camp will be returning in way better shape than they left the UK," commented John Powell, "and although Kieran has a niggle to deal with he will be fine come the major meets of the year.

"It's been a very productive few weeks here, and with a largely new squad this year, I am looking forward to seeing people do justice to a lot of hard graft through the winter months."

Trackspeed1 UK coach John Powell hinted at the end of
his squad's Florida training camp that a late training
performance promises great things for at least one of his
stable this summer.  Watch this space!

BACK IN ACTION AND PB's ALREADY!

Trackspeed1 UK sped back into track action on Saturday (20th), ironically in the coldest and wettest conditions of the Florida Spring so far, but there were still PB's set on day one of their season!

Predictably it was Kieran Daly (20) and Frederick Afrifa (16) who improved lifetime sprint marks after some very focussed training during the squad's first couple of weeks Stateside.

Daly, whose 200m best remained static last year due to the lack of outings over the distance, reduced his 21.9 best to 21.69s, but clearly has far more to come.

Afrifa, the youngest in the America party, took a tenth off his 200m best to record 22.51s after struggling to an 11.27s 100m which coach John Powell said was well below what he is capable of.

"These best times were well deserved by two guys who have worked very hard in training," said John Powell.  "The most encouraging thing though is that Kieran has much more to offer as he steps his training levels up, and Fred at only 16 will progress significantly."

Afrifa's 200m was a World Youth Championships qualifying mark for his home country of Italy, and so puts him n pole position to represent his country in Donetsk later this year.

Other Trackspeed1 UK performances were all encouraging given it was the first competition day of the year, and that the conditions hardly promoted excellent sprinting.

Julian Thomas stretched is legs with an opening 100m in 10.66s burst, but will be looking to improve on his 21.57s 200m.  Remaining results are below...

Ed' Amaning	Did not compete
Frederick Afrifa	100m – 11.27 +1.4; 200m – 22.51 +1.6 PB
Julian Thomas	100m – 10.66 +0.8; 200m – 21.57 +0.4
Kieron Daly	100m – 10.82 +0.2; 21.69 +0.8 PB
Lloyd Gumbs	200m – 22.57 +0.8; 400m – 49.52
Matthew Sinclair	Trained, did not compete
Nathan Gilbert	Trained, did not compete

FAWWAZ OFF TO A FLYER!

Fawwaz Okunola was the toast of the newly formed Trackspeed1 UK Academy this week, as his season got off to a flyer at Crystal Palace.

The 15-year-old, who joined the new Academy earlier this year, opened his 2013 account with two blistering sprints that will already feature among the fastest in his age group in the UK.

The first race of the day was a heavily wind-assisted 100m, which he completed in a personal best 10.89s ahead of a +3.6m/s gust.  However, the later 200m was not similarly affected, and a virtual zero wind reading meant his lifetime best of 22.37s (win reading -0.1m/s) now presents a bit of a decision as to which sprint he focuses on most later in the season.

Fawwaz Okunola clocked 22.37s for the 200m at
Crystal Palace, still aged just 15.

Speaking from the senior squad's pre-season training base in Florida, USA, Fawwaz's cash John Powell was complimentary on his charge's opening effort of the year:

"Fawwaz has terrific leg speed and I knew he was going to run fast over 100m, but I wasn't too sure of how much speed endurance we had managed to put into his legs since he joined us.

"His 200m time is excellent, and now he has a few decisions to make ahead of the main championships this year as to which sprint he wants to prioritise."

In the same open meeting at Crystal Palace, the squad's main training base, another Academy member Phillip Robinson, set a lifetime best finishing second to Okunola in 23.01s.  It was a fine run, although he had earned a dressing down from Powell's number two, Johnathan Regis, for turning up just 20 mites before his 100m event!

Back in the USA, Julian Thomas grabbed the headlines at last weekend's Lake Brantley High School meet.  Competing in the Florida Gliders Spring Classic, in Altamonte Springs, he clocked a healthy 21.29s to finish second to fellow Brit Dannish Walker-Khan.

All the Trackspeed1 UK performances of the season so far, in the UK and the USA, are updated on the squad rankings lists, the link for which is on the home page.

NEW SEASON, NEW LOOK FOR "TRACKSPEED1 UK"

Trackspeed1 officially rebranded to 'Trackspeed1 UK' this year, but now it has had its official stamp of approval with the new kit issue, courtesy of suppliers Adidas.

Former World Junior finalist, Julian Thomas, modelled the kit at Crystal Palace last week, just before he and a number of the squad's top performers travelled out to Florida for their annual pre-season warm weather training camp.

Trackspeed1 UK's Julian Thomas gives the new squad brand his sign of approval!

"I'm really pleased with the new look and logo," said coach John Powell, "I think it looks really professional, and is supported well by the three-stripe brand."

Seven athletes have travelled to Florida with coach, and therapists John Allen and Lucy Eggleton.

"Training in the warmth of Southern USA will be a huge relief for everyone," said John.  "We have endured the most unrelentingly bitter cold winter at Crystal Palace ever, and you simply can't run at your best in that kind of environment.

"People are in pretty good shape though, and looking forward to giving weeks' hard graft, which will bring them back to the UK ready to take the summer season by the scruff of the neck!"

As pictured below though, there was an additional member of the squad who was equally eager to get running on the track at Clermont!  The group are basing themselves at the USA National Training Centre.

Powell junior (Jasmine, 13 months) takes to the track in the US, and it looks
like she's already set to get into winning ways!

POWELL JUNIOR MAKES THE BIG SCREEN!

Jasmine Powell turns one this week (20th Feb') but has already hit the big screen in front of thousands of spectators!

'Miracle' baby of Trackspeed1 coach John Powell, seemed to be having the time of her life at Saturday's Birmingham grand prix, as the local cameras spotted her.  She was immediately beamed onto the big screen in a lull between events and got the biggest "aaaaagh" of the afternoon as she waved frantically to anything and anyone!

"I don't care if she is into athletics or not," said proud dad John, "but she did seem to love this event.  She didn't stop clapping all afternoon, although I had to find all sorts of treats to stuff in her mouth to keep her quiet when the sprinters were waiting for the gun to fire!"

Jasmine marked the beginning of a spectacular year for John in 2012 both on and off the track, arriving last winter as the 'oldest' IVF baby ion British history - third oldest in the world.

"She was truly a miracle baby," said John, who suffered Cancer which relapsed twice some 21 years ago, with intensive chemotherapy making it impossible for him to father a child again naturally. 

"She brought me luck all last summer and, despite the immense disappointments of Autumn, I am sure will bring good luck and fortune to all in Trackspeed1 and the Academy this year."

The vast majority of the squad have avoided indoor competition this time round, and are well down the road of preparation for summer now, despite freezing temperatures at their training base at Crystal Palace.

"The weather is always a challenge this time of year," said John, but performances are all up on last year for those who were here, and the Academy concept born last September has really taken off.  We have some real young talent in the junior ranks of TS1 again, so it will be very interesting to see how summer pans out this year."

POWELL'S RETIREMENT ON HOLD

It was a painful conclusion to the most successful year ever for Trackspeed1.  Just weeks after some of the happiest moments of his coaching career, Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was ready to quit the sport for good, but that is now at least on hold.

The previous blog news item to this outlines in detail John's post-season blues, but as 2013 dawned his Academy concept has taken off, and his senior group are progressing nicely.

"You can only get up so many times after you are knocked to the floor," said John, "and to be perfectly honest, I had no intention of continuing as a coach after this year, but for the second time in 8 years, a terrific bunch of new guys have made that an impossibility for me.

"Summer saw some of the highest points of my life as a coach, watching James Ellington win the British 200m crown and gain selection to the Olympics in london, seeing David Bolarinwa final at the World Juniors, and of course being part of the TeamGB set-up in London.  Autumn though was the lowest."

Trackspeed1's academy concept has long been an ambition for John, but time and his commitment to his leading athletes prevented it.  Now though, not only has he got a good bunch of club athletes, he also has some young talent that promise to really impress over coming months and years.

John Powell (centre) is joined by 3 new Academy athletes
with great promise for 2013: Yehnine Gayle (left),
Frederick Afrifa (centre) and Fawwaz Okunola (right)

"I still don't quite understand what is wrong with a sport that allows coaches that take athletes to major games over a period of many years slip back to coaching juniors again with no support whatever, but that's the way athletics is in the UK.  One minute you're an Olympic coach, the next you're akin to a school teacher down the local track!"

All this said, Trackspeed1 have high hopes for its senior athletes this year, with former international Julian Thomas training well, along with England 200m Champion Edmond Amaning, and quarter miler Matt Sinclair, to name but three.  Former 400m hurdles international Lloyd Gumbs is also a great prospect.

"We'll crack on with what we do this winter," said John, "and who knows what we could achieve come summer.  We're warm weather training in Florida again this year with some of the group, and we could have representation in both British and Italian teams if things go well  - watch this space!"

POWELL CALLS FOR COACHING REFORM

Trackspeed1 UK coach John Powell has broken his silence on this website to speak out on what has been an ironically devastating end to one of his most successful summer seasons ever.  And he believes coaching reform is the only solution!

Since the Olympic Games, which capped a season that saw just about everyone in Trackspeed1 UK set huge personal bests, Olympian James Ellington has elected to go to pastures new, World Junior finalist David Bolarinwa has moved on to another coach, and former international Andrew Matthews has failed to return to training without any contact whatsoever.  Add to that the retirement from top level athletics of Jason Hussain and Ed Harrison, and the top end of the squad of 2011-12 has been demolished.

"I don't have all the answers," said John, "but this cannot continue.  I've been in this game over 36 years, and I'm sick to death of being used and dumped by athletes chasing a non-existent holy grail.  

"Coaches need a union or representative body - with legal clout - to look after their interests when it comes to working with athletes of a certain level.  The sport needs to professionalise itself in this respect, or it will begin to haemorrhage expertise, which it can certainly ill afford to do.

I really do wish James all the very best

"First of all, let's be very clear here about James Ellington.  He's decided to go to an American coach UK Athletics have hired at Loughborough.  I'm told he has a cracking track record with sprinters at world class level, and I understand James's desire to train with the best.  But it is still devastating for a coach to lose a top international like James, especially after a 14-year association.  And to have him leave after getting him to his first Olympics is especially galling.  

John Powell with James Ellington, at the World Championships,
in South Korea in 2011

"That said,I wish him the very best for the future, and really do sincerely hope and pray the move works out for him.  He has made it to where he is by and large the hard way, and he deserves a break.

"Poaching is rife in athletics"

"David is another situation all together.  Poaching is rife in athletics now, even with coaches employed by the governing body.   More athletes changed coaches this autumn than probably ever before - it has really been musical chairs.  

"I have no direct evidence of poaching, but a sack load of hearsay and plenty of circumstantial material doesn't leave too much to the imagination.  I have listened to what some athletes tell me has gone on with, especially young impressionable individuals having their existing training regimes questioned  by so-called senior coaches.  It is completely unethical and rips athletes away from programmes that are working perfectly well for them.

"The thing is, if the boot were on the other foot, I would be so embarrassed.  Think of the pressure you are under to ensure your new charges actually deliver and improve.  And of course in a lot of cases they don't.  But hey, you've got a star-studded line-up in your squad, so you are a super-coach aren't you!

Short-listed for Olympic Head Coach

"The point is, what incentive is there left now for an ambitious coach like me to carry on?  I was hugely flattered to be short-listed and interviewed for the Olympic Head Coach position recently.  I knew I was faced with a massive challenge, but I felt my application matched the ambition I had held for many years up to that point.

"I would be the first to support a strategy of links with coaches from abroad to learn and develop both our athletes and coaches, and I have to say the England Athletics National Coach Development Programme is an excellent stepping stone toward that end.  

"But to import them and then expect athletes to permanently leave their current coaches, who in any cases could be delivering pretty good results already, is a fundamentally flawed policy.  These guys need to work with our guys - athletes and coaches - and help us to learn and improve on the job.

"I'm afraid the assumption that coaches employed by the governing body are the best around and should therefore inherit by right all the top athletes is about as stupid and naive as it gets!  

Nobody improves when they leave

Suffice to say no sprinter that has left my squad has ever improved more than a couple of hundredths, if that.  I suspect David may be an exception as he is still a developing young talent, but of course that will be to the credit of his new regime won't it!

John Powell with David Bolarinwa - three European Junior
medals, one gold, plus reaching a World Junior final inside 12
months was not good enough for the athlete who also became
one of the fastest ever British juniors over 200m this year!

"I am still left with some exceptional talent in my squad of 2012-13.  Edmond Amaning, Julian Thomas, Lloyd Gumbs and Matt Sinclair top the bill, and the newly-established Trackspeed1 UK Academy has already unearthed at least one young athlete who I think could possibly go all the way over the next few years.  But in the latter case, I wonder what the ultimate outcome might be if he does break through to the top of his sport?!

No regulation or control

The thing is, there is no regulation, no control, and so athletes are in many cases allowed to treat coaching resources with sometimes complete contempt.  I have gone full circle this summer.  One minute I thought we were going to inherit some really positive additions to the squad; a few weeks later the top end of my squad had left instead!

I know I'm not the only one, but it's getting worse, this year exceptionally so.  I give everything to athletes under my tutelage and always will for as long as I'm in the sport.  I have spent tens of thousands of pounds over the years and dedicated  a massive part of my life to the good of my squads.  Perhaps I need - at last - to just understand that they will take, take, take, until it suits them, and then throw it back in your face.

Passionate and ambitious

"Many may see these words as those of a bitter or poor loser still hurting after yet further departures that follow a trend now spanning over three decades.  Some more informed readers may, however, recognise them as an expression of despair from an individual phenomenally passionate about his sport, hugely ambitious to achieve for his athletes within it, and who has a pretty reasonable 'track' record of success over a sustained period of coaching at international level.

"One thing is clear though.  If the current trend continues, at some stage, in the months or years to come, the chasm between elite and development coaching will have become so large, irreparable damage will have been done to our sport."

HUSSAIN'S PARALYMPIC EXPERIENCE

Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain drew the line under a long and distinguished athletics career in the most dramatic fashion possible on Monday (3rd September) in the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

As one of the nominees from the squad to remain on standby for helping as a guide to foreign athletes competing in the Paralympic Games athletics events, he was called up to assist Nepal's Bikram Rana in the T11 200 metres event.

Competing in front of a packed stadium, Jason was staggered by the support given to the athletes, and the atmosphere generally in the stadium - even though he had been a spectator at one of the Olympic Games sessions a couple of weeks earlier.

Jason Hussain (left) with Paralympic sprinter Bikram Rana (centre)

 "It was amazing, and to actually take part in something connected with the London Games was a real privilege," he said.

His efforts didn't go unrewarded either. Although Bikram finished fourth of four competitors in his heat, the unsighted sprinter set a personal best and Nepal national record in clocking 26.95.

Jason's track career now draws to a close, having seen him rub shoulders with some of the best of British over the past decade. He represented Great Britain as a junior, and has been a steady performer at national level throughout his senior career.

One of his most notable achievements was not so much a performance, but his successful battle in 2008 with Cancer, which saw him back into training just 20 days after his final dose of chemotherapy, which in itself was a huge inspiration to those around him.

"Jason was - and is - a tough cookie," said coach John Powell, "and he has pulled through some really sticky patches that others would have struggled to emerge from.

"His character and experience will be missed from the squad, but life dictates that, unless you are at the very top in track and field, you have to earn a living somehow, and that is now his priority.  

 

"Everyone at Trackspeed1 UK wishes him well for the future. He has a wealth of experience, especially during the time he worked for me as the Met-Track Scheme Manager, and he will be a huge asset to any future employer."

 

Jason will have one final race today (Saturday 8th) in the Super8 final before he finally hangs up his spikes.

TRACKSPEED1 ACADEMY TO LAUNCH

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has announced the formation of a brand new sprints academy to be formed under the Trackspeed1 banner. 

It will be a unique opportunity for sprinters, young or old, irrespective of ability, to receive high level coaching with potential to graduate to elite level.

The unprecedented successes of the long-established sprinting stable at Crystal Palace during 2012 has prompted John to expand his coaching work to incorporate anyone who wants to try to develop in the speed events. Instruction in long jump, triple jump and hurdles could also be availed on request.

John, now retired from his long term career in the Metropolitan Police, will be working with his top athletes during the day, but will open up opportunities for other athletes to train as part of the Trackspeed1 set-up during specified evenings.

"We have a pretty good tradition of discovering and developing young talent here," said John, " but I can't keep feeding youngsters into the main group where I have international athletes quite rightly needing more significant and priority attention.

"This way, any athlete who wants to get into some decent sprint training in south London can receive it, with the added incentive that, if they progress well, they could end up training alongside some of our top stars.

"It won't be free, but the deal will encourage anyone getting involved to commit for a minimum period, and they will all be entitled to wear the Trackspeed1 brand."

John emphasised that he would welcome any athlete from any club, and that unattached athletes would be given a free reign to join whichever club they felt suited them most. 

The whole initiative will get started in October when the main group report back for winter training, but anyone interested in getting involved should contact John as soon as possible via trackspeed1@hotmail.com as there will be a limit if initial popularity is high.