Track & Field Update

Whilst many Woodford athletes, especially younger ones were competing in the Woodford opening meeting at Saturday others were in action over the weekend including at the Loughborough international and the Gateshead Diamond League. Results at Loughborough including a personal best for high jumper Will Grimsey.

The Loughborough international, a traditional high standard early season meeting, saw several Woodford athletes in action. Will Grimsey wore a Scottish vest for the first time and did so whilst winning the high jump as he improved his personal best by 1cm as he cleared 2.25m. Also representing Scotland was Craig Charlton in the shot, where he placed 5th with 15.62m, a little below his recent form where he put 16.41m recently at Middlesbrough. Ahead of Craig and in 2nd place, showing decent form with a season’s best of 18.09m, was Yucef Zatat. Two Woodford athletes raced in the match 110mH, Cameron Fillery, representing England, was close to his p.b. as he placed 2bnd with 13.57 secs (+1.1), while Ollie Cresswell, representing Loughborough, was 4th with 14.67 secs (+1.1). Making her GB Junior debut, Mary John was in a high class 400m race and acquitted herself well as she finished strongly to place 4th with 54.39 secs in what was only her second ever race over the distance. In a non-scoring 100m race Rebecca Matheson was close to her best with 12.04 secs (+1.5) and, also close to her best, Ellen McCartney cleared 4.00 in the pole vault.

On Sunday evening at the Gateshead Diamond League meeting in wet and very windy conditions, the Ofili sisters both raced over 100m Hurdles with Cindy Sember winning in 13.28 secs (-3.9) and Tiffany Porter 4th with 13.50 secs (-3.9). Phil Norman, having recently excelled with his Olympic Games qualifying mark in the steeplechase, was a little below that form but placed 8th with 8m35.31 secs.

Also of note at a race in Stirling was Ben Potrykus, who won a good Mile race with a p.b. of 4m03.57 secs.

Both Will Grimsey (HJ) and Phil Norman (3000m s/ch) will earn their  first full GB international vests having been selected for the Gb & NI team to contest the European Team Championships next weekend in Silesia, Poland.