Track & Field Round-Up

WGEL athletes were in action at a number of meetings both at home and abroad. There were some notable middle distance performancess, led by Matt McLaughlin and Alex Cornwell in Manchester and Tara Bird in Oordengem, in Belgium.

Racing at the Manchester BMC Grand Prix at Sports City Manchester on Saturday evening U/20 Matt McLaughlin just got the better of U/23 Alex Cornwell in a high standard BMC "A" 1500m. Matt finished 8th with 3m43.26 secs, with Alex 9th in a personal best of 3m43.34 secs. There was also a 5000m personal best from another U/20, Ed Shepherd, 11th in the "B" race with 14m36.48 secs. Over 800m Megan Edwards won the "D" race also setting a personal best of 2m09.40 secs, and Jordan Donnelly recorded a season's best of 1m52.99 secs.

Competing at the Flanders Cup Meeting in Oordengem, Belgium, Tara Bird was 2nd over 800m in a marginal season's best of 2m04.57 secs. In the men's race Jon Cook was 9th with 1m50.11 secs, and over 1500m Conor Bradley was 4th with 3m45.19 secs. Also in middle distance action, at the Irish Milers Club Meeting in Tullamore, Pajo Hamilton was 3rd over 800m with 1m54.91 secs.

In Geneva on Saturday, Kitty Eleyae was 3rd in the long jump with 6.12m (-0.7). Elaine O'Neil recorded 12.12 secs (+0.1) over 100m, and Nathan Wake 49.66 secs over 400m.

Competing at a home countries throws meeting at Bedford on Saturday, Andy Frost just got the better of Mark Dry, with 70.81m to win ahead of Mark's 70.44m. Tom Norman produced a seaon's best in the discus of 57.05m, and in the shot HCA member Scott Lincoln reached 15.88m and with the junior implement, Youcef Zatat 16.30m.