Track & Field Round-Up

Many WGEL athletes were in action at home and overseas over the weekend. Several of those were at Crystal Palace for the South of England Championships where there were medals for Elaine O'Neil, Ayamba Akim, Joseph Dewar, Hollie Redman, James Bongart, Jessica Burgess, Keishana LaRose and Chris Linque. Overseas. Woodford athletes were in action in the US and Geneva.

At Crystal Palace there wasn't a Woodford winner but there were five silver medals and two bronze medals. Elaine O'Neil placed 2nd in the 100m recording a season's fastest of 11.83 secs (w?), and in those heats Katie Skelding just missed out on making the final as she recorded 12.33 secs. World Masters Champion Ayamba Akim was 2nd in the high jump with 1.65m, whilst in the U/20 men's long jump Joseph Dewar placed 2nd with his only valid jump of 6.97m w (+2.2). Observers noted that the World Schools Champion had several big fouls, including one which was very marginal and over 7.60m. Joseph comfortably qualified for the 100m final with 10.61 secs w (+2.5), but then was disqualified from the final having false started. Hollie Redman was 2nd in the discus with 44.02m and also 5th in the shot with 11.86m James Bongart was the other silver medalist with a p.b. of 56.00m in the U/20 javelin. In the women's 400m Keishana LaRose was 3rd with 55.92 secs, as was Jessica Burgess in the U/20 3000m, and Chris Linque in the discus with 50.32m.

Several others were close to medals; Omololu Abiodun was 4th over 200m with 21.23 secs w (+3.1), having qualified from his semifinal with a pb of 21.35 secs (+1.1). Hugh Williams placed 4th in both the U/20 and senior shot put recording p.b.'s in each of 13.60m and 12.45m. Also 4th was Harry Clarke in the hammer with 56.25m. Eugene Ayanful was 5th in the 100m with 10.70 secs (w?), having recorded 10.64 secs in his heat (+1.7). Azaria Francis was 5th in the triple jump with 11.58m (-0.8). Others in action were Bernadine Pritchett, 8th 800m 2m25.26 secs, and 10th 1500m with 5m01.86 secs; Anna Clark 8th U/20 800m with 2m23.02 secs, Angus Holford 20th 5000m 16m19.64 secs, and Paul Scanlan with 1m57.26 secs in the 800m heats. HCA member Alex Bell was 6th over 400m with 48.84 secs having recorded a pb of 48.38 secs in his heat.

At the Midland Championships Dan Gurton placed 2nd over 800m with 1m58.27 secs. Earlier in the week Dan had run a significant personal best of 1m52.78 secs to win the B race at the BMC meeting at Stretford. Also in the Midland Champs, there was a bronze for Lucy Marshall in the hammer with 54.13 secs. During the week at the Newham meeting Eugene Ayanful recorded 10.76secs over 100m and Keishana LaRose 56.2 secs over 400m. At Lee Valley, Katie Skelding recorded 12.51 secs 9+0.8) and Keira McCook 11.80 secs, whilst at West London there was an 800m pb for Sam Benge of 2m00.68 secs.

Overseas at the Diamond League meeting in New York, Tiffany Porter was 5th over 100m with 12.89 secs (-2.1) and Shana Cox 6th over 400m with 52.13 secs. Also in the US at Indianapolis Jordan Donnelly placed a close 2nd over 800m with 1m 51.44secs, whilst in Geneva, Dan Awde placed 2nd over 400m with 46.13 secs, with Michael Baker recording 52.18 secs over 400mH and Jordan Kirby-Polidore 21.19 secs (-1.5) over 200m