Indoor Round-Up
Whilst indoor action this weekend for most WGwEL athletes focused on the London Indoor Games at Lee Valley, Jeanette Kwakye and Joice Maduaka raced for GB&NI in the televised international fixture at Glasgow, and Nick Leavey and Emily Moss for England in Bratislava. There was also some pleasing news of a return to competition, and form from Chris Reynolds.
At the Aviva International in Glasgow, Jeanette Kwakye continued her competitive return, and whilst not as quick as her recent win in the Southern Championships, Jeanette’s 7.40 secs clocking for 2nd is another step towards a return to competition at the highest level. Also in action for GB&NI in this match was Joice Maduaka. Racing from the outside lane, Joice placed 2nd over 200m with a time of 24.17 secs. Racing as part of a small England team selected for the Elan Meeting in Bratislava, NIck Leavey placed 2nd over 400m with a time of 48.62 secs, whilst Emily Moss was 6th over 800m in 2m11.44 secs.
At Lee Valley, which hosted the London Indoor Games on both Saturday and Sunday, a number of Woodford athletes were also in action. In the women’s 60mH, another continuing a successful return to competition, Sarah Claxton, won twice over 60mH, with times of 8.35secs and 8.34 secs. In the men’s 60mH, Dan Davis placed 6th and 5th, in high-class fields, with times of 8.02 secs and 7.97 secs. Under 20 athlete Omololu Abioden set a personal best as he won the 200m event with 22.52 secs. Omololu returned to race over 60m on the Sunday, twice setting personal bests, of 7.13 secs and 7.12 secs. Another junior, David Olupitan also recorded 7.12 secs in his race. In the senior men’s 60m, Colin Wilson recorded 6.93 secs and 6.91 secs, Eugene Ayanful recorded 6.99 secs, Jasosn Greenidge 7.14 secs and 7.09 secs, and Nnamdi Umeh, 7.38 secs and 7.41secs. Over 400m, Dan Bray recordfed 50.35 secs
In the women’s 60m, Azaria Francis was just .02 secs away from her best ever, with times of 7.67 secs and 7.68 secs, with Katie Skelding recording 7.88 secs and 7.94 secs. Katherine Foy, a week after running cross country through the Chingford League mud, raced on Saturday, over 400m, placing 4th in her race with 60.70 secs, and over 800m on Sunday where she recorded 2m19.03 secs. In the field, Prince Ezenwa placed 2nd in the triple jump with 14.81m with Peter Kirabo, 4th in the junior event with 13.50m, whildt in the shot, Devon Douglas won with 14.34m and Chris Linque was 4th with 13.34m.
There were also reports from South Africa, where he has been training, of a return to action for Chris Reynolds. Racing in Germiston on Saturday, Chris clocked 1m50.10 secs over 800m to place 3rd, and now hopes to embark on a limited indoor season here in the UK