Track & Field Round-Up

A number of WGEL athletes were in action over the weekend. Some went to the helpful conditions of Geneva, where Graham Hedman made a notable start to his 400m season, and many others competed in the less helpful UK bank holiday weather conditions at the England (Closed) Championships at Birmingham. There was also news of another Olympic Games "B" standard from Mark Dry, and further encouraging news of hurdler Richard Alleyne.The annual EAP meeting in Geneva has a reputation for posting good times Situated at a helpful altitude of 374m, and with usually good wether, this year was no exception, and Graham Hedman's season opening 400m of 46.15 secs as he finished 3rd in the "B" race was one of several good 400m results from British athletes.

Other Woodford athletes in Geneva, were Joice Maduaka who recorded a season's best over 100m to finish 2nd in the "B" race with 11.53 secs (+0.1) and also was 2nd over 200m with 23.67 secs (-1.1), Stephanie Gaynor raced twice over 100mH recording 14.08 secs (+0.6) and later 13.87 secs (0.1). Elaine O'Neil raced over 100m, also twice with times of 11.89 secs (-0.4) and 11.99 secs (0.1). The following day, also in Switzerland at La Chaux-de-Fond a meeting reckoned to be even more helpful to the athletes, at an altitude fractionally under the IAAF limit for altitude assistance of 1000m, this year proved less helpful as windy and rainy conditions negated any advantage, and Stephanie Gaynor placed 3rd in the 100mH with 14.05 secs (+1.0). Also racing in Europe over the weekend, but in Belgium at Oordegem, Oli Heeks placed 9th over 800m with 1m52.65 secs. It was at this meeting, that Richard Alleyene again improved his 110mH personal best after a 13.74 secs (-0.4 ) heat , Richard then improved his lifetime best by 0.06 secs to 13.64 secs (+0.2) as he won the final. In Poland at Bydgoszcz, Jess Sparke was 10th in a good quality 1500m in 4m19.01 secs. On Friday evening at the Diamond League meeting in Rome, Tiffany Porter, although not quite at her very best, placed 6th over 100mH with 12.84 secs (-0.1).

 

At Birmingham in the England (Closed) Champ[ionships, Jeanette Kwakye, continuing to battle with injuries raced for the first time this season, placing 2nd in her 100m semi-final with 11.75 secs (+0.4) but did not start the final. Also making the semi-final was Azaria Francis who placed 7th with 12.53 secs (-0.9) after a 12.41 secs (-0.9) heat. In the women's 200m, Shana Cox was 2nd with 23.94 secs (-0.6), whilst in the "B" final, Katie Skelding was 6th with 25.50 secs. In the heats Azaria Francis recorded 25.55 secs (+0.6). In the heats of the men's 400m, U/20 Paul Scanlan recorded 49.48 secs, and over 1500m Alex Cornwell placed 7th in the final with 3m54.9 secs after a 3m51.54 secs heat. Also in the heats Andy Marianai recorded 3m58.87 secs. In the 110mH final Dan Davis recorded a season's best, albeit hand-timed of 14.2 secs for 6th. There was also a season's best in the women's triple jump for Stephanie Aneto, 4th with 12.90m (+1.9) with Hannah Frakson, 6th with 12.65m (+0.7). The women's 400mH was unfortunate for Tracey Duncan, as the second fastest qualifier after winning her heat with 59.50 secs, Tracey fell in the back straight of the final. The men's discus saw Tom Norman place 2nd with 51.47m, with Dervon Douglas 7th with 41.87 and Chris Linque 8th with 41.66m. Simon Bennett placed 7th in the javelin with 60.65m. HCA members in action included Simeon Williamson who won his 100m semi with 10.58 secs (-1.4) but did not start the final, Jo Ryan with 58.36 secs in the 400m heats and Mo Sasegbon with 1.64m in the high jump. There was also news of second claim member Jordan Donnelly, who recorded 1m50.50 secs over 800m in Germany.

In the Scottish Champs, Mark Dry took the hammer title with another Olympic "B" standard of 74.59m, and Francis Smith was 4th over 400mH with 55.11 secs.