Indoor Round-Up February 8th-UPDATED

WGwEL athletes were again busy in indoor action this weekend, with international fixtures in Moscow and Stuttgart, and domestic action in Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham and Lee Valley. Highlights included another Pole Vault personal best for Alasdair Strange, and fine sprinting and hurdling from Tim Abeyie and Callum Priestley.

In Europe, Sarah Claxton continued her busy racing schedule where, at the Sparkassen Cup in Stuttgart, she recorded a season's best of 8.13 sec in the heats of the 60mH. In the Moscow Winter Meeting, Joice Maduaka was 5th in the 60m with 7.41 secs. In Glasgow, in winning the Scottish Indoor Chapionships, Alasdair Strange again improved his personal best in the Pole Vault, clearing 5.16m, adding 1cm to his recent Scottish indoor record. Francis Smith also claimed a Scottish title in taking the 60mH in 8.24 secs, and also recorded 7.25 secs in the heats of the 60m.

On Sunday Sheffield hosted the McCain Indoor Challenge, where Alasdair Strange was back in action in the pole vault, this time clearing 4.92m for 4th. Also 4th in the women's pole vault was Maria Seager, who cleared 4.00m. Devon Douglas was 6th in the shot with 14.63m, and Kay Foy 7th over 800m with 2m15.88 secs.

Across both days of the weekend the NIA hosted the high standard Birmingham Games. Tim Abeyie contested both the 60m and the 200m, placing 5th in the final of the 60m with 6.79 secs, having recorded a season's best of 6.74 sec in his semi final. In his favoured 200m Tim did not contest the final, but only after clocking a fine time of 21.06 secs to win his semi-final, and go 2nd on the UK rankings and to equal 8th on this year's world rankings. Also in great form was Callum Priestley who set a p.b. of 7.68 secs in winning the 60mH, a performance which takes him to the top of this year's UK rankings. There were several other good performances from Birmingham, Elaine O'Neil was 2nd over 60m with 7.48 secs; Nick Leavey 3rd over 400m with 48.02 secs after a 47.69 secs semi-final; Stephanie Aneto won the women's triple jump with 12.61m, and Jason Greenidge recorded 7.19 secs in the 60m heats. In the Under 20 age group, Junior Ejehu had good runs, winning over both 60m and 200m recording 6.96 secs and 21.81 secs, and Kitty Eleyae also had two wins, over 60m with 7.81 secs and in the long jump with 5.45m.

Competing in the US at Indianapolis, Butler University student Sarah Bird was close to her recent p..b. recording 17m48.73 secs over 5000m.

The Essex Indoor Championships, saw several medal winning performances from WGwEL athletes. Amongst the men and boys, there were gold medals and county titles for Paul Scanlan in the U/20 400m with a new CBP of 49.60 secs, and for Colin Wint in the U/17 200m with 24.09 secs. Behind Colin taking silver was Hasif Bedford with 24.09 secs. Also winning silver medals were Dan Yaxley in the U/20 800m with 2m05.01 secs, Ben Phillips in the U/20 400m with 52.76 secs and Chris Linque with 13.20m in the senior shot. Veteran, Keith Newton took bronze in the senior triple jump with 12.95m.

In the women's and girls events, there were county titles for Clare Leckie over 400m with 61.18 secs,, Sophie Fuhr in the U/17 400m with 62.18 secs, Bernadine Pritchett over 1500m with 4m55.50 secs, Kirsty McIntosh in the pole vault with 3.40m and Rachel Dean in the U/17 triple jump with 11.74m. Taking silver medals were Dianna Kennedy in the 1500m with 5m04.06 secs, Hannah Pattie-Bellili in the high jump with 1.40m, and Ebony Bobb-Semple in the U/15 long jump with 4.47m. Picking up bronze medals were Dianna Kennedy in the senior 800m with 2m22.88 secs,, Rachel Dean in the U/20 long jump with 4.73m and Hannah Pattie-Bellili with 10.25 secs in the U/15 60mH. Several other WGwEL athletes were also in action at Lee Valley and full results are available here.

At the Windsor Open meeting on Saturday, Dan Davis competed over 60mH recording times of 8.01 secs ad *.04 secs, whilst Stephen Emelieze went over 60m with 6.95 secs and 6.92 secs.