Indoor News
As the indoor Track and Field season gained momentum, a number of WGEL athletes were in action both at home and abroad. The stand-out performance came from TCU student Sam Watts who, racing for his University in the US, went to the top of the 2015 World rankings over 200m.
Sam Watts, currently studying in Texas, but who was back training at Woodford over the Christmas break, had already showed a glimpse of his current form when running a 46.6 secs relay split two weeks ago, and he was in even better form this weekend. Racing at Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sam recorded a personal best over 60m of 6.84 secs, to place 3rd in his heat. Later he lined up over 200m, comfortably winning in a personal best of 20.69 secs, a time that ranks him 10th on the UK all-time indoor lists, and at this early stage of the 2015 indoor season currently ranks him first in the world.
Lee Valley hosted the London Indoor Games over the weekend. On Saturday, Robert Wolski competed in the high jump and, whilst still hampered by a back problem, and restricting himself to a short approach, he won with a clearance of 2.10m, and was very close to 2.15m. Also competing in the jumps were Kitty Eleyae in the long jump where her 5.75m, which was her only valid jump, was good enough to win, and also winning was Tosin Oke with a triple jump of 16.60m ahead of Thasalong Tshireletso who reached 14.21m off a short approach for 4th. On the Sunday, Olumide Ogunseitan raced over 60m, and was just a touch slower than his recent personal best with 6.95 secs, and Stefan Redmond, recorded 7.21 secs which was a personal best. Sports City, Manchester, hosted the "Vault Manchester" specialist Pole Vault competition, and HCA member Dan Gardner cleared a good 5.32m, and in the women's event Katie James cleared 3.72m. At Glasgow, in the Scottish National Championships, HCA member Jack Lawrie, still a junior, recorded a personal best over the senior 60mH as he won with a time of 8.37 secs, whilst Tom Holligan placed 4th over 200m with a time of 22.05 secs.
Also competing in the US, but last weekend at Fayetteville, Hollie Pattie-Belleli recorded 1.54m in the HJ, 2m20.91 secs over 800m, and 8.83 secs over 60mH, the latter two being personal best marks. US Based Jordan Donnelly was in Europe for work last week, and raced in Munich over 800m, opening his season with a 2nd place over 800m with 1m53.15 secs. Tim Abeyie raced at Kirchberg, in Luxembourg and recorded 6.89 secs over 60m.