Other Track & Field News

WGEL athletes were also in action on Saturday evening at the Watford BMC Grand Prix, and at the Bedford International Games on Sunday, where Beijing finalists Sarah Claxton and Jeanette Kwakye were both in action. There was also news of an Olympic A standard fro Shana Cox.

Saturday evening's Watford BMC saw performances affected to a certain extent by the windy conditions, but there was a fine run nonetheless from first year junior Matt Mclaughlin who was just 0.02 secs outside his personal best as he placed 5th in the "D" race with 1m51.08 secs. In the "B" race, Jon Cook was 6th with 1m49.61 secs, and in the "C" race Oli Heeks was 9th with 1m54.07 secs. Kiwi para-Oympian Tim Prendergast had an over distance race over 5000m and recorded 15m10.94 secs. Tara Bird's very encouraging start to the season was halted by a serious ankle injury sustained five weeks ago. Although able to cross-train it has not allowed anything but very minimal running,Tara nevertheless started the "A" 800m but was sadly forced to drop out.

At Bedford on Sunday there was further good hurdling from Sarah Claxton as she recorded 13.26 secs (-1.3) and later 13.17 secs (-0.5). Sarah will be targeting the Olympic A standard of 12.96 secs, and with further progress and more helpful conditions should achieve that soon. Jeanette Kwkaye raced for just the second time this season and finished 4th over 100m in 11.68 secs (-0.8). The triple jump saw a fine performance form Hannah Frankson where her season's best of 13.33m (+1,0) placed 4th, with Stephanie Aneto 8th in a good competition with her mark of 12.79 secs(+0.8). Ezekiel Ewulo was below his best in the long jump as he placed 6th 7.31m (+0.8). Mark Dry continue his good hammer form, again gaining victory over Alex Smith with 73.87m, and Emeka Udechuku placed 3rd in the discus with 56.71m, with Devon Douglas reversing Saturday's result over Chris Linque as he threw 46.85m and Chris 45.77m. Anthony Oshodi improved in the shot as he was 4th with 16.76m. In the men's 110mH Richard Alleyne was below his recent best, 4th with 14.02 secs (-1.3), and in the 100m Jason Greenidge clocked a hand-timed 11.3 secs (-0.1). Over 200m junior, Jordan Kirby-Polidore was 4th in 21.40 secs, and Nathan Wake had his first race of the season, over 400m, as he recorded 49.41 secs.. HCA member Louise Shortland cleared a season's best in the pole vault of 3.60m for 4th.

Paul Scanlan raced in Guernsey and sprinted into strong headwinds, recording 11.24 secs (-1.8) to place 2nd in the100m "A" race, and 22.92 secs (-1.7) for 200m.

At the New York Diamond League meeting Shana Cox raced over 400m, where she placed 7th, but just inside the Olympic A standard with 51.54 secs.