BUCS and other Indoor News

Several Woodford athletes were in action indoors at Sheffield last weekend representing their universities at the British Universities Champianships(BUCS.) There were medals for Ellen McCartney, Ellis Greatrex, Che Richards, Sam Khogali and Rebecca Matheson. There were good performances including p.b.’s for others also at Sheffield. Additionally, there was news of good indoor performances elsewhere including at the Scottish Championships, Birmingham Games and the recent Newham Open.

Ellen McCartney was Woodford’s sole gold medal winner at Sheffield with a fine victory in the Pole Vault with 4.20m, close to her recent p.b. of 4.24 which was set in France and improved on Rhian Clarke’s 22 year-old Club record of 4.20m. Silver medals were each won by Ellis Greatrex and Che Richards. Ellis was 2nd over 400m, finishing very strongly to record a season’s best of 48.15 secs after qualifying marks of 49.59 secs and 48.94 secs. Che Richards in his first indoor comp of the season was 2nd in the long jump with 7.45m after qualifying with 7.24m. Just behind Che was Sam Khogali , 3rd with 7.43m after his qualifying mark of 7.14m. Another to pick up bronze was Rebecca Matheson in the 200m where her 3rd place time was 24.37 secs after a heat 25.22 secs and semi final of 24.57 secs. Rebecca also recorded marks of 7.65 secs and 7.60 secs in the heat and semi of the 60m. Also making a final was Louise Gilbert, 5th over 800m with a personal best of 2m10.80 secs after recording prior p.b.’s of 2m10.87 secs and 2m10.81 secs in the heat and semi. In the women’s shot Chiara Okereke placed 8th with 11.19m after qualifying with 11.91m. Decathlete Howard Bell recorded a p.b. over 60mH in the heats with 8.34 secs and recorded 13.15 secs in the shot qualifying (final result is outstanding) as it also is for Joba Ashiru who recorded 1.93m in HJ qualifying. Matthew Adum-Yeboah progressed through the 60m semi-finals recording 7.02 secs after aa 6.98 secs heat, whilst in the women’s heats Eloise Lewis recorded a season’s best of 8.03 secs.

Racing in Glasgow in the Scottish Championships and now a V40 was Francis Smith who won his age group over 60mH with 8.93 secs. Racing over 400m and coached by Francis was Declan Gall who placed 3rd in the 400m final with a season’s best of 48.65 secs. Another racing over 400m but in Birmingham was Omololu Abioodun who won his race in a personal best of49.06 secs and at that same meeting Cameron Fillery recorded 7.92 secs over 60mH.

At the Newham 60m event, there was a good result for Shona Vincent who after recording 7.58 secs in her first race, a personal best by 0.01 secs, then won her second and improved again more significantly to 7.52 secs to currently rank her 9th in the UK in just her first year in the U/20 age group. Zahara Malcolm also raced at Newham recording a personal best of 8.18 secs in her first race and then 8.25 secs in her second.