NEW TECHNICAL CONSULTANT SIGNS FOR TS1

Trackspeed1 UK have gained a priceless new partner in Technical Consultant, Walt Cline, one of the leading sources of expertise on technique in sport in the US.

Walt Cline is a Sport Science Coach and Consultant to developmental, scholastic, collegiate, and professional athletes, corporations, and military populations in the USA.  Walt's professional training and licensing has allowed him to work with athletes and individuals at every level from youth to professional.  

"I met Walt at UVA (University of Virginia, Charlottesville) and it was clear from the off that he is very passionate about sport, coaching, and possesses a massive depth of technical knowledge," said TS1 Chief Coach, John Powell.

"Even though he may be a few miles away, modern day technology can bring him over to our own front door.  He represents a fantastic source of advice for anyone in Trackspeed1 UK, not least myself, to bounce ideas off, or simply share issues with with a view to finding solutions.  I really hope some of our folks take advantage of what is surely a unique potential learning experience."

Walt has 17 years' experience coordinating and developing programming as a consultant, teacher, coach and subject matter expert to sports programs in youth, developmental, scholastic, collegiate and professional settings - in John's words, he represents "...almost the ideal source of consultancy anyone could wish for."

Trackspeed1 UK's international approach to recruiting the widest and most diverse sources of advice and ideas around training was dealt a further boost after John expanded the association with UVA Head Coach Bryan Fetzer, who willingly moved into the role of Performance Consultant from Training Advisor.

"All this may seem a little heady at first," said John, "but when we all report back for squad training on October 12, I will make sure everyone is clear on just what this represents for them as members of the group."

Asked why he didn't recruit sources of expertise nearer home, John explained: 

"There is a wealth of knowledge here in the UK, and there have been some terrific positive steps toward coach development, especially through the National Coach Development Programme, but ultimately a lot of the expertise is limited to elite athletes.  Sadly there are risks when your athlete starts talking to other coaching regimes locally too."

Walt Cline - new Trackspeed1 UK Technical Consultant.
See http://h2ksports.com/ for his full profile and website.

 

STATESIDE HOOK-UPS PROMISE MUCH FOR TS1

Trackspeed1 UK Chief Coach, John Powell's Stateside visit landed him in the State of Virginia this week, and he had very quickly recruited a wealth of expertise for the squad over the coming year.

After revisiting his old stomping ground at Harvard University, Boston, the hook-up with Virginia's Chief Track and Field coach, Bryan Fetzer (formerly at Harvard) paid dividends.

Details will appear on this blog very soon, but with links continuing at Harvard, and a Washington DC-based coach already buying into links with Trackspeed1, John was already very excited about the potential for his athletes in 2013/14 and on.

"We have a wealth of expertise in the UK, but if you limit the range of your knowledge to your own shores it is a very naive strategy indeed.  I have learned so much from my links in the US over the years, and this summer's trip has extended the potential to develop and learn still further.

"It's potential links for the athletes, most importantly, as well as the coaching staff in the squad," he continued, "and I believe that puts us in a very unique position indeed.  I hope to elaborate very soon."

Trackspeed1 UK regroup as a squad for training on October 12th - two days after John visits Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE from The Queen!

POWELL APOLOGISES AFTER ELLINGTON'S SLATING

Trackspeed1 UK coach John Powell has issued a public apology to James Ellington for holding him back in his sprinting career.  The 27-year-old told the world's media he had not realised he had been subjected to a "young programme" which was "clearly not world class" during his world championship interview with the BBC.

"I can only apologise to James for holding him back," said Powell, " and I must also apologise to the dozens of other internationals who have developed with Trackspeed1 that I did not push them on to coaches possessing magic wands in the past.

"I am devastated that an athlete who I have supported through thick and thin, and probably saved his career on at least 2 occasions, believes that he has been subjected to an inferior training programme.

"To all those athletes who feel they have been held back, I unreservedly apologise.  To the coaches who have 'rescued' athletes from my squad in the past - I now see you were absolutely right.  What more can I say - you are clearly far superior to me.

"I am away on holiday visiting family in the Far East right now and have only heard about James's feelings being aired through numerous messages prompted by his comments.  What can I say - I am truly gutted."

ACADEMY SHINES BUT EYES ARE ON 2014

In the word of Trackspeed1 UK's chief Coach, John Powell, "it's been a funny old season", but nobody can deny that the launching of the squad's Academy barely 9 months ago has proved a rip-roaring success writes Jeremy Townsend.

The departure of London Olympian James Ellington, European Junior Champion David Bolarinwa, and some other seniors last year, left one of Britain's most experienced sprints coaches pondering on his future, but the successes across the board in 2013 have recaptured his appetite for the job!

"I am still completely gutted at some of the departures last year," he confessed, "it was a real kick in the teeth!  But the Academy idea has really taken off, and everyone has improved.  We even created a new English and British Schools Champion!

Matt Sinclair was one of the TS1 seniors who had a miserable 2013 with
surgery now needed to settle his Achilles problem, but his eyes are already
set on a massive comeback in 2014!

"True, some of the seniors in the group haven't had the best year, but it takes time for a coach and athlete pairing to gel and develop, and I truly believe we are in a very good place looking ahead to Commonwealth Games year in 2014."

Olympic year was without doubt one of the best ever for Powell's charges with his athletes involved in all the major national and international events, and just about everyone in the group setting personal bests. 

The coach's own world was lit up by the birth of his baby daughter in February, carrying the Olympic Torch in July, and his inclusion in the full TeamGB Olympic package, from the Portugal holding camp to the whole stadium experience.  And on top of that an MBE was forthcoming earlier this year for 'Services to Athletics'!

"It was an amazing year," confessed Powell, "but we have to move on.  2013 has seen all our younger members PB, but where injuries have hampered others, I will be looking to pack in some serious conditioning this winter, plus other contingencies, to avoid a repetition in 2014.

"There will inevitably be one or two changes to the squad profile this autumn too.  Already we have four potential new names for the group, but in order to create a positive training environment I may be reviewing just how much I can offer now for one or two existing athletes."

Trackspeed1 UK's long-established links in the United States may well be revived later this year before the group reconvene for winter, as Powell hopes to visit some American universities to consult with coaches and develop coaching ideas.

"There's an opportunity," he said, " but we could be moving house, and with a then 7-month pregnant wife, it will have to be a rather carefully-planned trip!"


KIeran Daly and Fredrerick Afrifa power out of the blocks at the s
quad's pre-season training camp in Florida, USA

YET ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL IS BORN!

Fawwaz Okunola powered to a sensational English Schools 100 metres title in Birmingham on Saturday (6/7/13), and in so doing became yet another brilliant success story in a glittering Trackspeed1 UK roll of honour over the years.

Fawwaz Okunola - English Schools Intermediate Boys
100 metres Champion, and yet another international
graduate from Trackspeed1 UK

 It promised to be the closest fought final on the programme sheet as the heats threw up two semi finals that were simply too close to call.  Fawwaz, the youngest member of coach John Powell’s training squad, drew the fastest qualpifier, Oliver Bromby (Hampshire) in the lane next to him.

Bromby had the crowd drawing breath as he clocked 10.69s in the heats, but that was assisted by a +2.7 breeze, and evened out with lesser winds in the other heats.

“I told Fawwaz he had to believe he could beat Bromby and to really go for it in the semi, because if you go into a 100m final with any doubts in your head you are finished,” said John.

Fawwaz had run 10.87 in the heats, a hundredth off his PB, despite the negligible +0.3 breeze, but that reversed in the semi to -1.4 as he saw off Bromby and others in a blanket finish.  He clocked 11.00, just a hundredth ahead of the Hampshire boy, with others closing in.  The final was set to be a classic.

With an international vest o offer for the first two across the line, the stakes were high, but Fawaz took his opportunity by the scruff of the neck.  He blasted out of the blocks, hit top speed, and switched on the after-burners as the rest faded.

His 10.86s into a headwind of  -1.5m/s in the final was exceptional, and would convert to under 10.7 had that breeze reversed.  He crossed the line a clear tenth of a second ahead of the rest to take gold, and be assured of a seat on the plane to Ireland next weekend for the schools home international, representing England.

“I was delighted for Fawaaz, because it came as the result of some conscientious training this last few months.  He’s the youngest in the group, but probably one of the most dedicated.  He has three years as an under-20 now, so we can develop him properly into hopefully a full international.”

 

Fawwaz proudly shows off his English Schools gold

Also competing in Birmingham was Trackspeed1 UK’s Nathan Gilbert in the Senior Boys 100m.  Nathan’s season promised so much, but had thus far been frustrated with a lengthy hamstring problem, and more lately illness.

The heats saw him glued to his blocks, but he came through the field in the latter stages to qualify for the final in second, clocking 11.00 facing a -1.4m/s wind.

In the final, he clocked a highly respectable 10.86s with a -0.1 breeze, taking fifth place which, under the circumstances, was exceptional.  He hadn’t finished there though!

With the new found belief that he could still run despite all his trials and tribulations in recent weeks, he anchored a nervous London Schools team in the 4x100m relay.  None of the teams had thus far wpo a medal in a disastrous string of results that, if continued in the senior boys race, would make it their worst showing in 30 years!

Nathan was in no mood to return home empty handed though, and duly took his team from fifth when he received the baton, to the bronze medal position at the line, to complete a hugely satisfactory day for the Trackspeed1 pair.

Both results were a massive testimony to the success of the Trackspeed1 UK Academy launched only last Autumn.  Intending to open an elite squad’s doors to younger developing athletes, results like Fawwaz, and the potential shown by Nathan have continued an impressive roll of honour for the group, stretching back years into the early eighties.

Nathan Gilbert - 5th in the Senior Boys 100m,
and took London to bronze in the relay

FAWWAZ HEADS FOR GLORY!

Trackspeed1 sprinter Fawwaz Okunola walked into today's English Schools Intermediate Boys 100m semi-finas with  performance of sheer class at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

Fawwaz Okunola breezes to a 100m internadiate boys
100m win in BIRMINGHAM

The youngest member of John Powell's elite squad powered to a 10.87s win in the heats of the 100m, leaving hi as one of the firm favourites to feature in the top three tomorrow (Saturday).

Of the two Trackspeed1 UK guys competing in the schoolboy olympics, Fawwaz lined himself up as yet another product of the Trackspeed1 development formula.  That said, Nathan Gilbert will acknowledge his nightmare start in the senior boys heats - which still saw him progress to the final - shows that he is also in the mix for honours on day 2.

If Fawwaz does emerge victorious over all but one of his opponents, then he will be yet another international graduate of the training group that professes to produce more new internationals from grass roots tan another in the country.

"Fawwaz ran very welL in the heats," said coach John Powell, "but he will have to improve in the semi and final if he is to go to Dublin for the international next week.   Either way though, he is proving here - yet again - that he is one of the most talented sprinters of his age in the country, and to that end I am very proud of him."

In the Senior Boys 100m Nathan Gilbert overcame a nightmare start to qualify for Saturday's final with a modest 11.0s second-placed performance.  His problem sciatic nerve this year left him struggling out of the blocks, but he recovered to qualify for the final on Saturday afternoon.

Check out London Athletics who are providing a news feed on Twitter with latest updates. Follow @londonathletics

COACH JOHN POWELL RECEIVES THE MBE

Trackspeed1 UK coach John Powell has been awarded the MBE for services to Athletics. His name is included in The Queen's birthday Honours List today (Saturday 15/6) writes a South London journalist.

The 54-year-old speed coach, who has been coaching athletes from the ground floor right the way through to the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and various World and European Championships for over 37 years, is bestowed with the ultimate accolade any British Citizen can receive.

Over his virtually four decades in the sport, John has fulfilled admin', management, planning, organizational, and of course coaching roles since his school PE teacher thrust a club membership form in his hand for Herne Hill Harriers in 1975.

Since then he has held offices such as Herne Hill Junior Captain, Founder and Team Manager of the hugely successful Blackheath Harriers youth scheme in the 80s and 90's, and then lead Belgrave Harriers to National Junior League titles in the late 90's and early 2000's.

Along the way, he has sat on numerous local, regional and national committees, and was secretary of the AAA of England Track and Field set-up for a time.  He has managed or coached any number of England or Great Britain teams at international events, and was a part of the coaching team on TeamGB in Athens and London.


Trackspeed1 UK coach John Powell - seen here carrying the Olympic
Torch at Crystal Palace last year - has been Honoured by The Queen
in her 2013 Birthday Honours List

John's big claim to fame however, has been the way he has developed young talents into senior internationals, and in achieving this his contribution to certainly hundreds, if not thousands, of young lives over the years has been colossal.

The former Police Superintendent, who retired from the London force late in 2011 after over 30 years' service, also set up the Met-Track project which has gone from strength to strength in London, using sport as a medium to push young lives back into positive pathways.  He recently gained National Lottery support for this to the tune of £300,000 over 3 years.

The notification of John's Honour came last month and arrived just 2 hours after he had landed at Gatwick after 5 weeks' warm weather training in the USA:

"I was heavily jet-lagged, and at first thought it must be something to do with the tax man when I saw the envelope, but when I read it, my reaction scared my one year-old half to death!," he said.

"Obviously I'm totally humbled by this. It came completely out of the blue, and quite honestly I am totally blown away by it."

John will hear over the next few months the exact date he is to be summoned to Buckingham Palace to receive the award, which could round off a pretty spectacular year with his wife due to give birth to his second child in 22 months in early December!

The citation for his MBE - which stands for 'Member of the British Empire' - reads : "Athletics coach. Services to Athletics'. It will be the second award he has received in the last 2 years, having won the England Athletics London Region 'Services to Coaching Award' in 2011. 

John, who is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), also holds the Metropolitan Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal 2002, and The Queen's Jubilee Medal for public service 2012.  His name is added alongside numerous household names in British Athletics, including Phillips Idowu MBE (whom he used to coach as a junior), Jessica Ennis MBE and Mark Lewis-Francis MBE among many others, and coach Malcolm Arnold MBE, who was Honoured last year.

JOHN V. POWELL MBE, FRSA

Above: the letter received notifying John of his Honour.

 

FAWWAZ HITS FORM ON TIME

Trackspeed1 UK's youngest sprinter, 15-year-old Fawwaz Okunola, has hit form just at the right time as he warms up for the highlights of hi summer track season.

Competing in an open meeting at Lee Valley last Wednesday he clocked one of the fastest times in the UK for an under-17 over 200 metres of 22.03s, adding a 10.86s 100 metres sprint over the shorter distance.

Both performances were lifetime bests, an both came just before the qualifying London Schools Championships, where selection is finalised for the prestigious English Schools Championships.

The London event, at Battersea Park, suffered from cold headwinds which slowed all the sprinters down, but Fawwaz held off traditionally strong opposition in the sprints to win the 100m final in a hand-timed 10.9s.  He opted out of the 200m to protect an aching hamstring.

"Fawwaz has progressed exceedingly well since he joined the squad," said his coach John Powell, "and this is having only really trained with us for half the winter.  Next time round he will be stronger and fitter, so his potential is very real."

It was a clean sweep of medals for Trackspeed1 UK sprinters in the Londons, with training partner Frederick Afrifa securing 200m gold in the under-17 final after a super bend that swept most of the opposition away in the first half of the race.  He clocked 22.6s into a fierce breeze, although Powell assured him afterwards that this was nowhere near where he could be.

"Frederick suffered a niggle in his hip at just the wrong time during his preparation," John explained, "and that has affected the end result in his running this summer. He is a potential sub-22 second 200m athlete now, never mind in the future, and it's just tragic that he hasn't yet been able to reproduce the form that promised to take him to the World Youth Championships for Italy later this summer."

The third Trackspeed1 UK athlete taking part at Battersea had dragged himself out of his sick bed t ensure his English Schools place was assured.  Nathan Gilbert had been posting personal bests over 100 metres all season, but contracted a flu bug at the beginning of the week.

Although described by his coach as 'rather rough' his performance was sufficient to make him a virtual certainty for the Birmingham nationals, after he cinched silver in the Senior Boys final in a rapid 10.8s which was pretty much level with his personal best 10.73, although the latter was wind-assisted!

Just 48 hours later some of the Trackspeed1 UK Academy athletes braved the coldest night of June so far at Norman Park, Bromley.  The highlight here were two personal bests by Peter Olusakin who clocked wind legal times of 11.95s and 24.53s.

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!