Track & Field Update

Several Woodford athletes were in action at Bedford competing for their universities in the British Universities (BUCS) Championships, where amongst a number of good early season performances titles were won by Omololu Abiodun and Youcef Zatat. There was also continued news of Sam Watts' good form in the US.

Omololu Abiodun's (picture left with coach Gladys Bird) BUCS victory came over 200m where, having won his heat with 21.37 secs (-0.3) and his semi with 21.57 secs (+1.6), he was a comfortable winner of the final in 21.41 secs (+1.9), adding to the indoor title he won in February. Youcef Zatat (below right) also added to his indoor title and retained his outdoor title in the Shot with a put of 17.08m.

Others in action in the field were headed by Lucy Marshall who recorded a personal best in the women's hammer of 58.36m to take 2nd. Thalosang Tshireletso placed 6th in the triple jump with 14.59m (+1.2) and also 11th in the long jump with 6.64m (-1.8) having qualified with 6.76m. In discus qualifying, Hugh Williams reached 32.78m and there were medals for two HCA members, Dan Gardner 2nd in the pole vault on count-back with 5.00m, and Kashif Jones, also 2nd in the high jump with 1.98m, having jumped a pb of 2.01m to qualify. 

On the track Ewan Dyer was 6th in the 400mH with 53.36 secs, and Jon Cook was 5th over 1500m with 3m51.48 secs. Both James Stockings and Ed Shepherd reached the 1500m semis where they recorded 3m58.70 secs and 4m04.60 secs respectively. Emily Moss made the women's 1500m final but did not start, having recorded 4m38.35secs to qualify from her semi. Paul Scanlan progressed to the 800m semis where he placed 5th with 1m55.95 secs, whilst Sam Benge recorded 2m05.91 secs in his heat.

Competing at Fort Worth, Texas, Sam Watts won over 200m in a useful 20.72 secs (+2.0), and a week earlier at Providence, Rhode Island, Jordan Donnelly was very close to his pb over 3000m with 8m31.64 secs.