Indoor News - Updated
WGwEL athletes in indoor action this week centred on days 2 and 3 of the South of England Championships at Lee Valley, where there were medals for Joseph Dewar, Devon Douglas, Sarah Claxton, Kitty Eleyae and Holly Pattie-Belleli. Woodford athletes were also in action at other indoor meetings around the country, and overseas.
At Lee Valley on Saturday, Bejing Olympic 100mH finalist Sarah Claxton just misssed out on another Southern title over 60mH as she placed 2nd by 0.01 secs with 8.26 secs, to fellow international Gemma Bennett. Sarah was marginally quicker the previopus weekend at Birmingham recording 8.25 secs. In the junior event, multi-eventer Holly Pattie-Belleli also picked up silver with a personal best of 9.08 secs. Another silver went to Kitty Eleyae in the long jump with 5.71m. In the men's shot, Devon Douglas went one better as he picked up a gold medal with 14.33m. Also gaining gold was young Joseph Dewar in the U/17 long jump where he jumped 6.68m for the title. Joseph also placed 5th in the 60m with a time of 7.16 secs.
In the senior women's 60m, Elaine O'Neil was the fastest of four Woodford athletes, winning her heat with 7.53 secs, but was then disqualified from her semi-final. Sarah Claxton, Kitty Eleaye and Azaria Francis all made it through to the semi-final stage where they recorded times of 7.73 secs, 7.74 secs and 7.78 secs (after a 7.72 secs heat) respectively.
Others in action at Lee Valley included in the triple jump where Prince Ezenwa placed 5th with 14.71m, Mitchell Jarvis 6th in the long jump with 6.80m, where David Crisp was 11th with 6.17m, and in the heats over 1500m where Alex Cornwell just missed out on a final place with 3m59.56 secs, and over 60m where 400m specialist Sylvester Juwe recorded 7.26 secs. HCA athletes in action at Lee Valley included Matt Morsia, 7th in the triple jump with 14.34m, and Simeon Williamson showing a fine return to both fitness and form as he took the Southern title over 60m with fast 6.64 secs.
At the Glasgow Open Meeting, Francis Smith was in action over 60m and 60mH where he recorded 7.43 secs and 8.38 secs respectively, whereas the prior weekend there was encouraging news of Tim Abeyie who won over 200m in Luxembourg with 21.11 secs, Alasdair Strange who placed 4th in the Manchester pole vault competition with 5.03m, and of Ben Challenger who cleared 2.05m in the high jump at Birmingham. Meanwhile competing in the US in the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor, Michegan, Daegu World Championships 4th placer, Tiffany Porter won in three events; over 60mH in 8.06 secs - the fastest by a UK athlete this season, 60m flat in 7.42 secs, and over 200m with 24.58 secs.