Indoor Round-Up

Indoor Track and Field action this weekend centred on the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix, and the British Universities Championships (BUCS) at Sheffield. The highlight from a WGwEL perspective at the Birmingham meeting was an indoor personal best, and European Indoor Championships qualifying mark, over 400m for Nick Leavey. At Sheffield, a gold medal in the long jump from Kim Murray led the Woodford performances. There was also news of a bronze medal over 400m for Paul Scanlan at the Irish Indoor Championships.

Nick Leavey recorded 46.49 secs, in placing a close 2nd in the National 400m race at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix. Comfortably inside the UKA qualifying mark of 46.70 secs. That mark placed Nick 3rd on the UK ranking lists for this indoor season, but by Sunday Nick was in 4th on those rankings as Richard Buck, who was slower than Nick in a separate 400m at Birmingham, was 0.11 secs quicker on Sunday. Other Woodford athletes in action in Birmingham were: Joice Maduaka who was 3rd over 200m in a season's best of 23.59 secs, and later 7th over 60m in 7.53 secs; Ezekiel Ewulo, 7th in the long jump with 7.24m; and Dan Davis who recorded 8.07 secs in the heats of the 60mH.

At the BUCS meeting in Sheffield, Kim Murray's long jump victory with 5.95m ( having qualified with 5.97m) was one of three Woodford medals. The second, a silver, went to Hannah Frankson who was 2nd in the triple jump with12.76m, with Emily Moss picking up a bronze for her third place in the 800m in 2m13.46 secs, after recording 2m11.59 in her semi-final. Kitty Elaye had two useful performances, 4th in the long jump with 5.66m , and 6th in the 60m Final with 7.87 secs, after a 7.83 secs semi-final. Another to place 4th was Stephanie Gaynor in the 60mH with 8.59 secs. Other Woodford athletes at Sheffield were: Katherine Foy who progressed to the 800m semifinal, where she recorded 2m25.36 secs, having qualified from her heat with 2m17.84 secs; Omar Mansour with 1m59.09 secs in his 800m heat; Ronnie Sparke with 4m06.25 secs in his 1500m semi final after a 3m58.41 secs heat; Gavin Lewis with 4m07.41 secs in his 1500m heat; David Olupitan with 7.16 secs for 6th in the 60m semi-final; and Nnmadi Umeh with 7.49 secs in his 60m heat.

Competing in the All-Ireland Championships in Belfast, junior Paul Scanlan, despite not being at his best having been laid low by a stomach bug for the two days immediately proceeding the championships, nevertheless picked up a senior bronze medal over 400m with 49.71 secs.