Indoor Round-Up

A few WGEL athletes continued their indoor competition over the weekend. The best performance came in the US, over 3000m from Irishman David McCarthy, but others were also in action both at home and abroad including at the televied Britsih Athletics Birmingham Grand Prix.

The British Athletics Birmingham Grand Prix saw World Championship finalist Tiffany Porter place 3rd over 60mH in 8.12 secs, a slightly below par run from her. The European Indoor qualifying mark is 8.10 secs, which compares with Tiffany's season's best of 7.99 secs. The women's 400m saw Shana Cox, another Woodford athlete that already has the European indoor qualifying mark place 6th in a high quality race with 53.43 secs. Young Matt McLaughlin the recent GB junior record breaker over 1500m, but who suffered a nasty fall in last weekend's UK Championships, placed 11th over 1500m with 3m49.74 secs.

David McCarthy was competing in the US in Boston, and won over 3000m with 7m51.24 secs, a qualifying time for the Ireland team for the European Indoor Championships and a WGEL Club record. Another racing well over 3000m, and competing at the All Ireland Championships in Athlone was Northern Irishman Conor Bradley who placed 2nd with 8m05.29 secs, just outside his outdoor best of 8m04.52 secs. Also in action in the same meeting was Pajo Hamilton who placed 8th over 800m with 1m55.50 secs having qualified from his heat with 1m53.57 secs. In Glasgow at the Scottish Championships, Francis Smith recorded a season's best over 60mH of 8.48 secs to place 2nd. On Sunday in the Midland Games, Sarah Claxton with a season's best to her name of 8.11 secs, just outside the European Indoor qualifying mark of 8.10 secs, and very unfortunate no to have t been given a start in the previous day's Grand Prix, placed 2nd with 8.19 secs. At Lee Valley in the Cambridge / Oxford varsity match, 400m specialist Sylvester Juwe finished 3rd over 60m with 7.16 secs.