BOLARINWA TAKES WORLD SILVER

Sixteen-year-old wonder-kid, David Bolarinwa, grabbed a superb 100 metres silver at the World Schools Championships, in Qatar last week. And his time of 10.76s was the second fastest of his life, despite the event coming in December when most sprinters are grafting through speed endurance and conditioning work!

He was beaten by fellow Brit, Jordan Arthur (10.67s), but with Arthur entering the under-20 ranks in 2010, and David still an under-17, David's performance simply underlined his immense promise as a real contender for honours in the not-too-distant future.

"There's no two ways about it," said coach John Powell, "David is a talent, and his silver medal at the Worlds was very well deserved, but he knows he has a very long way to go to break through to the big time in the real world.

"He hasn't been in Trackspeed1 for long to be fair, but I can say that he has already shown huge potential, and some of the seniors are already beginning to take him under their wing. He has big issues with his start and drive phase that need alot of work, but that is great news, because with a few basics being sorted pout, he can obviously run alot faster."

David is hoping to go warm weather training with his new squad to Florida in April, and that would represent a massive opportunity for him to prepare perfectly for his summer season, but that will depend on whether he gets funding to support him or not. He has already been rejected for Lottery funding, so only time will tell !

POWELL SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS COACHING AWARD

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell scooped a high profile award at the recent Sportscoach UK coaching awards night, in Old Billingsgate, London.

The prestigious award, made at a glittering ceremony MC'd by BBC presenter John Inverdale, recognised John and the three other coaches who had been instrumental in guiding Triple Jumper Phillips Idowu's career to his World Championship gold in 2009.

The rewarding coaching excellence 'coaching chain' award was presented by Phillips on stage in front of a 600-strong audience, to his school teacher Humphrey Long, John Powell, who coached him as a junior, and John Herbert plus current coach Aston Moore.

Phillips spent four profitable seasons with Trackspeed1, peaking with a fourth place in the European Junior Championships, in Slovenia, in 1997. He improved from 12.32m to 16.36m bneforr moving on to John Herbert as a senior athlete.

Kevin Tyler, Strategic Head of Coaching and Development for UK Athletics, said: "This was a well deserved award. This is a great example of four coaches working unselfishly to help shape Phillips' life and athletic career. All (sic) are to be commended, the sport is fortunate to have you".

John Powell said: "I was delighted we won the award, it was a lovely evening, and great to have it presented by the athlete. Phillips is a superb example of what young athletes can achieve even if they aren't majopr medal winners in early years."

TRACKSPEED1 TURN UP THE HEAT IN WINTER

Trackspeed1 are back on the track after the hard graft of hill running and base training, and things are beginning to look decidedly positive for 2010.

The initial squad list has, as always, been adjusted by either athletes not reporting back for training, or failing to measure up in the early stages of the athletic year, but coach John Powell reckons now he has the hardest working group of athletes he has ever worked with.

"We've gone through significant change over the past year or so," said John, "and we have lots of new faces, but I am really enjoying working with them because the vast majority really do want to put in the work and are a truly fantastic bunch to be around.

"There have been some tough decisions and changes of late, but I have made it clear that there are minimum standards you have to adhere to if you want to be part of Trackspeed1 now, and if you don't measure up you are out, and some athletes have sadly gone that way. But the result is a diverse but cohesive unit of real talent that is working incredibly well together.

"The indoor season is not so far away now and, although not everyone will be competing on the boards, there will be one or two TS1 athletes who really do promise to send a shiver up the spine of the opposition."

John Powell is pictured above with some of his senior athletes, Set Osho (left) together with Jason Hussain and James Ellington (right).

The competitive season begins exceptionally early though for new teenage prospect David Bolarinwa, who travels to Qatar in early December to compete for England Schools in the World Schools Championships, an event that has incensed John Powell:

"It is madness sending speed athletes out to a competition this time of the year", he said. It completely disrupts the winter training programme, and without adequate preparation presents a huge injury risk. I totally understand David wanting to take advantage of the opportunity such a trip presents, but in relation to longer term objectives it is crazy."

Asked who he thinks could impress in the New Year either indoors or out, John was reluctant to commit:

"It's early days, and everyone is looking good, but I do think that Femi Owolade could be a dark horse next year, James Ellington is heading for the shape of his life, and Jason Hussain is well on the way back to former glories after some challenging times. Combine that with the younger talent of David Bolarinwa and Omari Carr-Miller, and we could be looking at one of the best years of the decade!"

Trackspeed1's new look squad roll is as follows:

Samuel Adeyemi Senior Men 100/200m County level

Alex Blair Senior Men 400m County level

David Bolarinwa U-17 Men 100/200m International level

Omari Carr-Miller U-17 Men 400m National level

Ellie Doel U-23 Women 400m County level

Danny Doyley U-23 Men 100/200m National level

James Ellington Senior Men 100/200m International level

Frederica Foster Junior Women 400m National level

Kobie Fuller* Senior Men 400m Regional level

Dwayne Grant Senior Men 100/200m International level

Layla Hawkins Senior Women 400m National level

Jason Hussain Senior men 200m National level

Jack Miller Junior Men 100/200m County level

Jer O'Donoghue** Senior Men 100/200m National level

Dele Onifade U-23 Men 100/200m International level

Set Osho Senior Men 400m International level

Femi Owolade Senior Men 200/400m National level

Gavin Selway Senior Men 400m National level

Bukola W-Dyer U-17 Women 100/200m County level

* Based in Boston, USA

** Based in Ireland, but visiting London throughout winter

TRACKSPEED1 EVER STRONGER

Trackspeed1 confirmed who coach John Powell suspects will be the final new face to join the group this winter, as former Trackspeed1 multi-events teen, Layla Hawkins.

Layla had been waiting patiently to make a comeback into the sport after stress fractures in both feet sidelined her long term after a successful teenage contesting heptathlons.

Now 23, Layla (pictured here back in 2004) is serious about her training and is delighted to be back in her old training group.

"I really want to work hard," she said, "and see what I can achieve. I'm not one of these people who is simply social athlete."

"Layla always was a real talent," said John Powell, "and she never came close to her true potential. I just hope this time she can use a less fragile, adult body constructively toward success next summer."

Layla will focus on the 400m, which pitches her alongside new training partners Frederica Foster, Ellie Doel, and Savannah Echel-Thomson. She will also renew acquaintancs with athletes who were part o;f Trackspeed1 when she was last training, including Dwayne Grant and James Ellington.

"We really do have an amazing group now," said John, "made even better by the fact that everyone, irrespective of age, has an incredibly mature and hard-working approach to what is a really tough time training-wise. If it is maintained, people are going to fly in the New Year!"

TRACKSPEED1 OFF TO A FLYER

Trackspeed1 2009-10 has been hailed by coach John Powell as the most focussed yet, as training speeds through week two. And with the surprise return to the squad of British Olynmpic sprinter Dwayne Grant, the quality of this group is improving all the time.

"It is great to have Dwayne back," said John, "He returns after a seven-year absence. He is an immensely experienced athlete, will be a huge asset to the group, and hopefully we will also be able to get him back to his best next year."

Grant began his running days with John as his coach when he was an under-13, and went on to earn his early Junior International honours with him, including a European 200m bronze medal, and a gold at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Chile (4 x 100m relay). He also won numerous domestic titles.

Both athlete and coach have remained the firmest of friends since his move on to pastures new in 2002 however, and now both are hoping they can recapture the kind of form both know the athlete is capable of, in 2010.

"It has been quite incredible how the group has turned around in the last twelve months," John went on. "We had a small squad in 2009 who worked incredibly hard and competed outstandingly well, but we have now grown back to a group of around 20 athletes, the vast majority of whom are or have been internationals.

"I even had a text out of the blue this week from another high standard ex-athlete who is looking to make a return, and she is meeting us to discuss things next week.

"But where we are now is that we have a group of athletes who are really grafting in every session, and the levels of motivation are immense. Even athletes like James Ellington, who joined the squad over ten years ago, admits that levels of enthusiasm and morale are at an all-time high."

To track the group's progress through the winter months, log into this blog which will be updated with any news of developments at the Palace.

ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL SIGNS UP TO TS1

David Bolarinwa, one of the most exciting teenage sprint prospects of 2009, has joined Trackspeed1 as a last minute addition to the squad, who began training this week (13th).

David, from Thamesmead, who won the English Schools, UK Schools, and British Schools international titles over 100m to name but three, was looking for a squad to push him to the next level, and approached coach John Powell ten days ago.

"We're delighted to have David," said John. "He's an obvious talent and will fit into the group very well indeed. I think he wil have a lot to offer us as well as the group having much to offer him. His previous coach has obviously done a great job in getting him this far."

A couple of last minute changes saw Yomi Adeyemi change his mind about wanting to train with brother Samuel, and opted for TS1's partner group under the tutelege of Donovan Reid. And Moyo Sankofa decided at the eleventh hour not to make his comeback with TS1 after all, despite having been prep' training for some weeks.

"The squad is the best we've had in years now," enthused John Powell. "They have started up so motivated and work really well together. If the work ethic progresses, then heads could be turning in our direction this next season."

TRACKSPEED1 NAMES THE SQUAD FOR 2010

Trackspeed1 has, as always, a slightly different look about it for the coming training phase, with new names appearing along with some who have moved on. Full details have now been announced...

Samuel Adeyemi Senior Men 100/200m County level

Yomi Adeyemi Senior Men 200/400m County level

Tom Bensted Junior Men 400m Regional level

Alex Blair Senior Men 400m County level

Mark Brown Senior Men 400m International level

Omari Carr-Miller U-17 Men 400m National level

Ellie Doel U-23 Women 400m County level

Danny Doyley U-23 Men 100/200m National level

Sav'nah E-Thomson* Junior Women 400m National level

James Ellington Senior Men 100/200m International level

Frederica Foster Junior Women 400m National level

Kobie Fuller** Senior Men 400m Regional level

Jason Hussain Senior men 200m National level

Jack Miller Junior Men 100/200m County level

Jer O'Donoghue*** Senior Men 100/200m National level

Dele Onifade U-23 Men 100/200m International level

Set Osho Senior Men 400m International level

Femi Owolade Senior Men 200/400m National level

Moyo Sankofa Senior Men 400m Regional level

Gavin Selway Senior Men 400m Regional level

Bukola W-Dyer U-17 Women 100/200m County level

* Based at Loughborough University during term time 2009-10

** Based in Boston, USA

*** Based in Ireland, but regular London visits

Leaving the squad after 2008-9 were Phillip Doorgachurn, Laura Langowski (moved north), and Confidence Lawson.

Another international joins Trackspeed1

Just as the squad announced its new composition for winter, one further athlete has signed up to training at Crystal Palace for the next year at least.

British Junior International, Deli Onifade, whose PB's in the sprints of 21.58 and 10.63 are likely to dip quickly, as he has spent most of 2009 combating an achilles injury, contacted John Powell this weekend (4/10).

"I'm delighted to have Deli joining the group," said John, "although it will be on a month's trial to begin with to make sure we like each other! But I'm sure there won't be a problem. It's great to have an athlete of his calibre added to the mix, and I'm sure he will find his new training environment a really positive one.

"We now have an excellent mix of specialist sprinters and 400m athletes, with a potential weakness over the shorter distances now well and truly patched up."

The squad return to training on October 13th. John Powell is currently in Boston, combining vacation with coaching some Stateside athletes and liaising with contacts at Harvard University.

THE NEW TRACKSPEED1 TAKES SHAPE FOR WINTER

Trackspeed1 is poised to return to training on October 13th as a squad yet stronger than the hugely successful group of '09.

"We have inherited some serious talent this close season,." said coach John Powell, "and I really can't wait to get started. The schedules are written, and everyone should now be into preparation training. Anyone who turns up on 13th clearly out of shape will be sent away, but I'm sure that won't be necessary."

The squad have lost three athletes this year in Welsh 100m Champion Phil Doorgachurn, and English International and Midland Champion over 400m Laura Langowski, along with sprinter Confidence Lawson. But that has been more than compensated for with the new faces.

Former British Junior International Danny Doyley joins the squad, along with former south-coast based Ellie Doel (400m), who will partner Frederica Foster in training. Additionally, Blackheath's Femi Owolade (Nigerian Junior International) joins the fray, along with UK under-15 400m champion Omari Carr-Miller, the youngest member of the group.

Brothers Samuel and Yomi Adeyemi, coupled with Moyo Sankofa, and former TS1 athlete Gavin Selway, complete the new names to the group, with John Powell oozing positivity for the coming important training phase.

"We've got a tremendous mix now," he said, "and it is a vast improvement on what we had a year or two ago. Not only the talent, but we have some really good people here now, and I am absolutely convinced we can all work together toward some serious achievements in 2010.

"Gavin was with us before and we know what sort of talent he is, Omari is a great prospect if he can convert potential into reality, and Moyo has a track record that suggests similar potential."

John Powell was speaking from his base in Boson, USA, where he is currently working alongside Harvard University coaches as well as taking a well-earned break before winter training begins. The squad reconvenes on October 13th at Crystal Palace.

ELLINGTON SIGNS OFF IN STYLE

Trackspeed1's James Ellington signed off his summer season in style at the weekend with another blistering performance over 100m in Belgium.

Ellington, whose winter preparations were blighted with injury issues stemming back over the previous two seasons, saw off top British and American opposition to win the international meet in Antwerp.

His time of 10.32s saw him finish ahead of Britain's Leon Baptiste and Dwayne Grant, with a time that now sees the fastest four races of his life all in Belgium, and all in 2009.

"James has shown tremendous character to come through the frustrations of rehab' last winter to reproduce the form of his life this year," said coach John Powell, "and the even better issue is that he is clearly still well short of his true potential. If his injury issues can now be kept at bay, 2010 could see a new face getting into the mix!"

The season, which for some individuals is still in full swing, has been a far better one for the squad than 2008, and with new names joining for winter, John Powell reckons it could be the beginning of a return to the golden years of 2002-3-4. That era saw squad athletes win European gold medals, World student titles, numerous domestic national and international honours, and of course saw Chris Lambert go to the Athens Olympic Games.

TOM BENSTED IN THE FAR EAST

A somewhat unusual shot of a Trackspeed1 athlete in training? Well maybe England Schools International Tom Bensted might have some believe it, but this was at an event with a difference!

Tom is pictured scaling a rather lengthy set of steps leading to a Buddhist temple at a site a couple of hours outside Bangkok. There is no picture of coach John Powell, who Tom is with on the trip - and so we are simply left to speculate on the state he may have been in by the time he reached the top!

All bets are off as to whether Tom really did put his sprinting shoes on and run the whole lot non-stop, but one thing was for sure - the view from the top was spectacular, and the walk back down infinitely easier!

Now... anyone for a steps session folks??

TRACKSPEED1 HEADS FOR MORE GOLDEN YEARS

Pictured: some of the most successful athletes in Trackspeed1's recent history...

As a hugely successful athletic year draws to a close, Trackspeed1 coach John Powell has reflected on his squads successes and, with some new faces poised to join this winter, he reckons the group could be heading for an amazing few years...

"The best time ever for trackspeed1 was earlier in the current decade," he said. "We had the likes of Chris Lambert, Dwayne Grant, Tim Abeyie, Phylis Agbo, James Ellington, Onen Eyong, Jonathan Simpson, and many others. All internationals, and with representation at major championships all over the globe every year, including Commonwealth and Olympic Games. And of course shortly before tht saw the first three to four years of Phillips Idowu's career.

"We've had a great year in 2009 with the likes of James Ellington hitting the form of his life, and just about everyone else either setting a PB or winning a title, or both. Now it's time to consolidate an move on.

"The current squad should be pretty much all there for next year with the exception of two who are moving away from London. We need to create an environment that means that everyone works hard together, and I am delighted that we have had approaches from some athletes who will create just that environment.

"When winter training begins on October 13th, we will have former 400m sprinter from Trackspeed1 Gavin Selway on the comeback trail, and he is already getting in shape. Moyo Sankofa, another established quarter miler, is also into preparations for his comeback to the track after a lengthy absence.

"In addition to these, we now have confirmed another very talented 100/200 sprinter who could provide great company for James Ellington, and I am due to speak to a third short sprinter in a couple of weeks who is also looking to join, and he is already at a high level. We also expect a younger 400m athlete to join, who is a top-five-ranked athlete in his age-group. It's exciting times for sure".

Whilst remaining incredibly upbeat about his quad's future, John Powell also had some stern words to say about the encouragement the sport's governing body gives to the sort of athletes he coaches:

"The elitest policy United Kingdom Athletics is following is creating a huge gulf between those athletes they focus on, and those who are battling to make the grade. This is underlined by their selection policy.

"The World/European/Olympic Trials meeting annually is anything but a trial. Unless you win with a A standard performance they don't have to select you, and if you aren't a lottery funded athlete, they won't want to unless they can help it.

"Look at the relay team in Berlin this year. It's not right to name names, but there are people in the squad there who didn't even run the 100m at the trials. James Ellington was sixth in the trials but probably wouldn't have got a second look if he had finished fourth.

"The argument that he has not been part of the relay set-up earlier in the year is a compelling one as team practice is vital to success, but let's be open about relay selection in the first place - we might as well select in January as things stand! And despite his successes this year, James hasn't a prayer of being taken back into the squad for 2010 unless he runs significantly faster in the last few weeks of the season.

Pictured: the Trackspeed1 4x100m relay quartet who clocked 40.69 in 2008 in a college meet in the USA - the fastest by an under-23 training squad ever? L-R: Phillip Doorgachurn, Wade Bennett-Jackson, James Ellington, Jason Hussain.

"I've had it with athletes every year. They do ok at the trials - peaking at the right time. But then UKA move the goalposts. Suddenly they have to run again at Crystal Palace, or Loughborough, or both. And if they don't perform again, great, they don't have to select them. It's a disgrace, and is discouraging an awful lot of very talented athletes."

John was also rueful at the way coaching has gone in recent years for those coaching the band of athletes who currently fall jut short of international fame and fortune:

"There is simply no incentive now for the upper tier of the voluntary sector of coaching. I used to get invited to manage or coach British or English sides at junior, under-23 and senior level, but now that is exclusively UKA or England employees' domain. Wouldn't it be amazing for coaches who actually produce young talent in this country to be rewarded with an international track suit themselves?

"Far from rewarding the coaches that produce the talent, the track and field heirarchy do everything in their power to take talent away from you and into their supposed 'elite' training squads. It's a shambolic situation illustrated by the fact that no sprinter who has left Trackspeed1 over the years to join other coaches has ever improved, bar the odd hundredth of a second or two.

"In fact the only two who have improved that I can think of were Tim Abeyie and Conrad Williams, and good luck to them, but both were asked to leave the squad rather than being duped by other coaches.

"Surely there is a clue there somewhere?!"

Above: John Powell with James Ellington

BLAIR CRACKS IT AT LAST

Alex Blair (pictured), the 18-year-old 400m athlete from Blackheath and Bromley who has largely been the silent relation in Trackspeed1 to date, put down a warning to his training colleagues with a huge personal best on Sunday (26th July).

His 50.3 second effort in the national Junior League fixture at Norman Park, Bromley, added his name to the long list of lifetime bests achieved in the squad this year, cracking his previous best mark by virtually half a second.

And the gods were obviously on his side as he flew round to a 50.2 split time in the 4 x 400m relay (first leg), confirming that it is almost certainly only a matter of time before he joins that fairly elite sub-50-second class of athlete.

It came in a period where Trackspeed1 were again demonstrating that there is life in their legs yet, despite the latter stages of the season frequently prompting tired limbs after all the major championships.

Set Osho turned his hand to the speedier 200m at a mid-week Rosenheim League fixture on July 22nd, and clocked a personal best 21.58s in winning the A-race hands down. And both Savannah Echel-Thomson (25.5) and Frederica Foster (25.1) were not far off their best times in their cinderella events of 200m.

Coach John Powell was in his increasingly usual upbeat frame of mind this yhear after these most recent performances:

"We've had, and are still having a good year this year, and I don't think there's anyone who hasn't really achieved. I've now had contact with four athletes looking to come into the group this winter and, and I'm only aware of two who will be leaving, so we're already looking at a stronger group as a whole for the next 12 months, which has to be in the mutual interest of everyone. And I'm delighted for Alex - he works hard in training, and another lifetime best mark this year is the least a this charming young man deserves."

Added to the above performances, 18-year-old Jack Miller (pictured below) flew out to Portugal with the Great Britain Catholic Schools squad for the World Catholic Schools games, and ended up fourth in the 100m clocking 10.42s despite a gale force headwind.

"Jack has been beset with injury all year and the mere fact that he gotm himself into shape to get to this competition is a compliment to a very determined young man," said John Powell.

TRACKSPEED1 HIT OVERDRIVE ON THE BIG WEEKEND

A sensational weekend for Trackspeed1 in two major cities was hailed by coach, John Powell, as one of the best in years for his squad. And it was rounded off perfectly by a medal in the World Championships Trials, in Birmingham, for 400m sprinter Set Osho.

Set, whose season had promised to end in tatters earlier in the year as old injuries failed to respond to therapy, has switched into overdrive after things at last began to click a few weeks ago. And in Birmingham on Sunday, he topped that with his first ever senior national championship medal, despite having to run the whole race blind from lane eight!

Former European Junior gold medalist Osho, a graduate from Brunel University a year ago, and who lives in Brighton, was in the form of his life, as he cruised to an easy second place in the heats in 47.88s, but then pulled out his fourth lifetime best mark of the year in the semi-final of 46.45s. He qualified for the final in third spot, and is pictured left in the closing stages as the front three cross the line clear of the rest.

The final was one of the last events on the track of the entire championships, and placed Set in the lane he loves to hate, which left him no sight of the opposition until the final throes of the home bend. Entering the straight in fourth, he had Leeds sprinter Richard Strachan, a member of the winning British relay in the recent European team contest in his sights, and never gave up. Out-dipping him at the line earned him a bronze medal, and an outside chance of a trip to the World Championships in Berlin next month as part of the 4 x 400m relay squad.

"Set has improved vastly this year," said John Powell, "and he has a lot more in the tank. Once we resolved his injury issues, he began to deliver just as I told him he would, and he simply can't stop getting better. There were some athletes not in Birmingham, but the relay selection is far from a done deal. If Set can get a lane in the Crystal Palace Grand Prix on July 24th, another personal best a bit closer to sub-46 seconds might just put him into the mix!"

Another Trackspeed1 athlete who will certainly be running at Crystal Palace is James Ellington, whose sixth place in the 100m final ahead of Olympic Gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis, and Leevan Yearwood, who had chalked up an albeit windy 10.10s in the Bislet Games Golden League meeting a week earlier.

It was an outstanding day's work by Ellington (seen in action in Birmingham above, centre picture), who himself had put down a lifetime best 10.27s a fortnight earlier. A headwind in the Midlands eliminated any chance of that being repeated, but to reach the final of arguably the most hotly-contested and high profile event in the championships was little short of phenomenal.

"James got into the final out of grit, determination, not to mention talent," said John Powell afterwards, "and I am delighted for him. Notably he was the only athlete in that final who receives absolutely no support whatsoever from the governing body or national lottery. He is having to do things the hard way. But whatever your take on that, he cannot be denied a fantastic weekend's work off a winter that was way short of the mark. Next year he will be fitter, stronger and faster!"

Meanwhile, in Sheffield the English Schools Championships were taking place, and Trackspeed1 athletes again hit a rich vein of form. Savannah Echel-Thomson (pictured below left) shattered her lifetime best over 400m to slice almost a second off her previous best mark to record a 55.43s effort, earning bronze in the Senior Girls 400m final. Her result was a further boost to her coach while watching his seniors power through to finals in Birmingham, as he received the highly emotional call from an athlete who was busy engaging with cloud nine!

In the Intermediate Boys 400m Tom Bensted (16) was the fastest qualifier into the final, having run the fourth fastest time of his life in the semi's of 49.14, but a blanket finish saw him edged into a surprise third. It was to be a happier ending though, as he gained selection for the home international on July 18th anyway, representing England in Belfast.

"It was a close-run final apparently," said Powell, "and Tom knew he had gone out too slowly in the semi, so he tried to correct it in the final, but overcompensated. Only a tenth of a second separated all first three finishers, so it was an ok run, but it was great that he got the international for a second successive year - very few people achieve that."

In the Intermediate Girls 300m, Alleyn's School student Frederica Foster (16) from Beckenham, was expected to be among the medals, but unfortunately failed to deliver in the final and ended a disappointing fifth. It was a different story for training partner Laura Langowski, however, who produced a season's best performance in the B 400m final in Birmingham to take fourth place in a keenly contested event. The Midland Champion from Croydon said afterwards that she was pleased with her performance as it compared well with a number of top seniors who failed to deliver on the day.

Now the drama moves to Trackspeed1's home base - Crystal Palace. James Ellington has already been assured a lane in one of the 100m heats on July 24th when World Record holder and Olympic Champion Usain Bolt will feature. Set Osho should also be involved, and running on home ground where they train will undoubtedly be an advantage.

The opther resuolts from the weekend saw Ellington contesting the 200m on Sunday, but that did prove one step too far as he ran out of gas, and failed to qualify for the final. Training partner Jason Hussain continued his remarkable comeback after his serious health issues in 2008, and recorded a season's best 22.16s in the same event, but also failed to progress.

Set Osho, though, was the one who was all smiles travellilng home down the M40 on Sunday night. Below he proudly displays the bronze medal he won in Birmingham (enlarged)

HUSSAIN COMEBACK IS RIGHT ON TRACK

Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain continued one of the most remarkable comebacks to track athletics on Saturday, as he helped his club, Belgrave Harriers, storm to a second successive victory in the British Athletics League Division one competition.

Hussain, who underwent chemotherapy treatment all last summer, and who has beeen beset with injuries throughout his fight to get back to fitness, took third place in the B 200m in 22.1 seconds, and then ran second leg of a sprint relay that saw Belgrave whitewash the opposition. It was only his third race of the season after he clocked a winning 22.25s at an open meeting in Watford three days earlier.

"It may not have been a headline-making performance," said coach John Powell of his charge's efforts at the Windsor fixture on Saturday (4th July), "but people have to realise where this guy has been to in the last twelve months and what his body has been subjected to.

"The fact that he is back to semi-national standard sprinting barely nine months after his body was devastated by chemotherapy drugs is little short of amazing. And that's without considering the recent six-week enforced layoff he had due to an Achilles problem. It's been an immensely frustratiung few months, but at least now we look as if we are on the real comeback trail"

Jason is pictured above taking the baton from clubmate and training partner Set Osho on the back straight at Windsor in the 4 x 100m relay.

Hussain continued what is becoming a very classsy season for Trackspeed1, many of whose athletes now head to Birmingham to compete in the World Championship Trials next weekend (10-12th July), or Sheffield for the English Schools Championships (10-11th July).

Also competing at Windsor was Trackspeed1's hugely improved 400m ace Set Osho. He led the A race home with another classy 47.6s run, although confessed that there was a fair bit he needed to learn from the race:

"I've been working on some technical stuff with John," he said, "and there were things in that race that were a bit messy that we need to look at. But it's all a learning curve and I've been in my best form ever this season, so it should be interesting at the trials next week."

Set is pictured right as he covers the final few yards to win the 400m at Windsor on Saturday.

James Ellington, whose lifetime best 100m seven days before had turned a few heads in the world of sprinting, cruised to a 10.6s A-string second place after a nightmare start. But then he produced an awe-inspiring relay leg on third, cutting through the field like butter. It left John Powell salivating at the prospect of the trials in a week's time, and he could only describe his run as "totally world class" afterwards!

So the second weekend in July looks to be a fairly defining one for Trackspeed1. The World Championship trials will see Jason Hussain, James Ellington, Laura Langowski, and Set Osho in action, while at the English Schools, Savannah Echel-Thomson, Federica Foster and Tom Bensted will feature, with all three likely to be among or very near the medals.

ELLINGTON FIRES INTO UK TOP TEN

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington fired himself into the top ten-ranked sprinters in the UK with a blistering lifetime best 100m in Belgium yesterday (Sat 27th June). The 23-year-old clocked 10.27s with a legal wind speed, which takes him to ninth-fastest in the country this year. He lies just three hundredths of a second short of fellow Britons Rikki Fifton and Craig Pickering.

James is pictured in training earlier this year at the Disney training complex in Florida, USA.

"This was the breakthrough James has threatened for a while," said a delighted coach John Powell, "and when you consider the miserable first half of the year he has had with injury keeping him away from the track, it just goes to show how much potential he has longer term.

"I've known James ten years now, and coached him for eight, and he has always been an underestimated talent. That was underlined when he reached the World Junior final just ten weeks after tearing his hamstring back in 2004, not to mention his part in the European under-23 relay victory two years ago."

Ellington had run a very healthy season's fastest 10.44 in the heats, but switched to overdrive in the final to post his best ever mark. And as if that wasn't enough, he went on to record a winning 21.11s effort over 200m later the same afternoon.

Meanwhile, nearer home, John Powell was beginning to regret his trip north to Bedford for the under-20 and under-23 national championships as three of his four athletes crashed out in the heats of the 400m.

Frederica Foster (pictured below) had other ideas though, and survived an exceptionally tough heat to qualify for Sunday's final as a fastest loser. And 24 hours later, she turned the form book on its head to finish fifth in a lifetime's best time of 55.98s - eight tenths of a second faster than her previous best mark!

"Frederica ran a perfect tactical race," said John, "and took full advantage of lane two as she should have done. She's still under-17 and so will have learned alot about the event now, with 300's having been her main focus up until this year. She has been training really well since her exam's finished, and a pb was the least her efforts deserved."

Trackspeed1's Set Osho couldn't extend his improvement in every race this year to an eighth outing ion Austria on Saturday, as he finished second in 47.35s amid pouring rain. But that said, with eight athletes in the squad now sitting on 2009 titles, pb's or both, things are beginning to look pretty bright all round.

OSHO IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE - JUST LIKE SAV'!

Trackspeed1 400m sprinter Set Osho showed yet again just what a class act he is developing into, as he breezed to a South of England Championship gold medal in a lifetime's fastest mark at Watford today (Sunday 21st).

Set, who has now improved on every single one of his seven outings this season, clocked a best ever 46.70s as he anihilated the field on the home straight in the final. In an immensely competitive event his year, it leaves him ranked eleventh in the UK overall, but he was barely in the top 25 three weeks ago!

Set's weekend got off to a roaring start with a season's best in the heat of 47.46, having eaten up the entire stagger on the rest by the half-way mark, and cruising in the last 80 metres. The semi was a similar run, but saw him keep the gas on to the line to record a massive personal breakthrough, with a best ever 46.76 - a time he shaved a further six hundredths off in the final the following day.

"Set was always capable of running far faster than he has done over the past three years or so," said a delighted coach John Powell, "but he undoubtedly has a long way to go yet if he is to impact on the immense depth the event has now in this country, but he is more than capable.

"His tactics weren't great in the final, and I certainly think he could have worked alot harder on the first bend, but it has to be positive if a guy is recording personal bests and still has obvious aspects of his race that can improve."

Laura wins again

In the Midland Championships, Laura Langowski chalked up an amazing fifth consecutive title as she cruised to a 55.29s win, made even more impressive given the wind and rain prevailing there (Watford was basking in sunshine and blue skies!) And as if that was not enough, she took fifth in the 200m in 25.4s - hand-timed after the electronic equipment had been packed away early!!

Savannah shines
Also in lifetime best form at Watford, was Savannah Echel-Thomson, whose excellent indoor form took a dive during the latter stages of winter due to shin soreness issues. But Watford saw her produce what she had threatened to do for some time.

Running in the Junior Women's 400m final, Sav' ran a far more solid race than in the heat when she had run the first 200m far too hard, and came home in sixth place in a best ever 56.43s.

"Sav's performance was all the better when you consider that it was from out in lane seven," said Powell, "and it was an incredibly close finish between a number of girls. We are delighted for Sav' though, because she has been frustrated by injury for so long, and we know she is worth far faster outdoors than her overall pb of 56.77, which she ran indoors in February."

Elsewhere, Frederica Foster disappointed in the 400m heats in Saturday, getting eliminatd with one her slowest runs of the year of 57.90s, but with huge academic pressures that only ended 24 hours before, her form is now fully expected to return to that which holds her as the fastest over 300m at under-17 level in the UK this year.

Powell seeths
The championship weekend got off to an incredibly sour start for Trackspeed1 coach John Powell and British International sprinter, and former South of England Champion, James Ellington. Despite Powell handing in his entry to the SEAA office in April, they denied ever receiving it, and refused James a place in either sprints event!

"This is athletics at its worst," seethed John, "and I'm sure the officials are saying it's me causing problems again. But I know I handed the entry in, and I am puzzled as to why, when there are any problems or queries about entries, it is always with the SEAA and nobody else!

"I understand the rationale behind not allowing entries on the day, but the truth is, their system of no acknowledgement of entries until it is too late after the closing date is fundamentally flawed. They should either collate entries online, or send an immediate acknowledgement. It is an absolute disgrace that an athlete like James should have his whole season compromised by being excluded from this meeting.

"I am also appalled at the way the meeting ran up to an hour late on day one, and the fact that nobody checked to see if there were enough huirdles for the event. What a farce, what a disgrace, but of course all you get at the end of the day is self congratulation by officials on catching up half the time. Consideration for athletes doesn't even enter the equation."

OSHO SET TO FLY !

Trackspeed1 are witnessing a significant comeback this summer of one of the country's most under-estimated quarter milers. Set Osho, who has featured already on recent bulletins on this site, moved up a gear on Saturday (6thJune) in his club's British League division one clash in Abingdon.

Faced with far from the ideal sunny and warm conditions of the week before, Osho (pictured in action on Saturday), who was representing Belgrave Harriers, overcame the rain cold and wind to clock 47.49 seconds in the individual 400 metres event. It was a tenth faster than the Bedford Games seven days earlier, and showed all the signs of holding a significantly faster time still, despite still being relatively early in the season.

He didn't have to wait long! In the 4 x 400m relay he took on last leg where his club had slipped to seventh place, but was clearly not deterred. He swept through the field to close a huge gap to fifth, and was awarded an official split time of 46.0s - the fastest of his life by far, and one that had his coach positively salivating!

"Those were two very classy runs," said John Powell afterwards, "and although he knows he could have executed the individual race better, the relay shows just how much there is in his legs this year, despite a very shakey winter."

Osho was in the British Junior gold medal winning team over 4x400m in Lithuania three years ago, but has not made an impact in the higher agegroups. This, despite many leading authorities, including Trackspeed1 Training Consultant and USA Olympic sprints coach, Brooks Johnson, acclaiming him as world class! The next few weeks of this season therefore, and with a full winter, the 2010 season, could see a new name in the headlines if current progress is anything to go by!

In the same meeting, Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington cruised to wins in the 100m in 10.90 despite a headwind of -1.9m/s, and the 200m in 21.89s facing a headwind of -2.4m/s.

This next weekend sees a number of the younger squad members in action in their county schools events and/or Junior League fixtures, with the senior South of England Championships, at Watford, on 20th and 21st June a week later.

ELLINGTON EXPLODES INTO ACTION!

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington cast a winter of discontent behind him at bedford on Sunday (May 31st), and produced the second fastest 200 metres of his life - on the opening day of his season!

Competing in the Bedford International Games, the 23-year-old who has been battling hamstring and sciatic nerve problems since January, finally proved that he is back to form - and boy how he showed it! His 21.06 second blast saw off all but gateshead's Richard Kilty, who recorded a lifetime's best of 20.80. (He is pictured in lane 4 in an earlier 100m race). With a negligible 0.1m/s tail wind it was a run that staggered coach John Powell.

"I knew James was getting back to his old self, and he's looked really impresive in training of late, but we didn't really think he had quite enough gas in the tank to produce a significant 200m yet," he said. "But this puts a completely different complexion on things. He could have a really great season and turn a few heads in the process now."

Ellington had earlier opened up his 2009 account with a fine 10.66s run over 100 metres despite a headwind of -2.9m/s which, if reversed, would have converted that performnce to a personal best inside 10.3.

It was a great opening meet also for Trackspeed1's number one 400m sprinter Set Osho. Another athlete who had been struggling with niggles for a fair bit of the winter produced one of his fastest 400's ever, recording 47.58s to win his race.

"Set executed his race perfectly," said Powell, "he went out hard, consolidated mid-race, and then had the strength to push on down the final straight. He's going to pb this year for sure, and I don't mind going on record to say so!"

As if this wasn't enough, 16-year-old Tom Bensted was in the same race, confronted with senior opposition for the first time ever, and was rewarded with a draw on the outside lane! Yet he still finished fifth with one of his fastest times - 49.43s - which puts him well over a second faster than this time last year!

The only slight disappointment of the day was Frederica Foster's 57.40s run in her 400m race, but being swamped with GCSE exams at present, it may be a couple of weeks before she rekindles the form that took her to 56.22 indoors in February.

U-RICA, FRED’S NUMBER ONE BRIT!

Frederica Foster, 16, tore round the Julie Rose Stadium, Ashford (Kent) on Sunday (24^th May) to strike gold in the Southern Championships, and roar to the top of the season’s under-17 women’s 300 metre rankings.

It was an outstanding run that was to be the highlight of a great weekend for Trackspeed1, where the student from Alleyn’s School, Dulwich, the same school as her coach John Powell attended  just over 30 years ago, shattered her previous lifetime best for the event.

Foster timed 39.41 seconds – the first time she had cracked the 40-second barrier – and claimed gold in a strong South of England final, which saw the fastest three times in the country this year recorded in the same race.  And her strong finish in an exciting final was the most important feature as far as her coach was concerned.

“The main aim is 400m,” said John Powell.  “Crazy rules in Kent prevented her from running the longer distance in the county championships as a junior, and almost certainly cost her a first international outing at Loughborough.  We now have to get Fred competing over 400m because there is no 300m event at any major championship. After this year, that event will be history for Fred.”

At the same meeting, 16-year-old Tom Bensted (pictured below in the all-black of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers) faced his first serious challenge of the season after a miserable winter of injury and interruptions to training, but the result could hardly have been predicted.

Hot favourite from Woodford, Paul Scanlon (far side of picture), failed to impact on the medals as Windsor’s Adam Hedcraft (right) came from nowhere to win in 48.84s, but Bensted was hot on his heels clocking one of his fastest times ever of 49.28s for silver.

“It was a great run by Tom,” said Powell, “because he actually went out at a reasonable pace.  He didn’t fade either – in fact he looked quite a strong finisher.  After a dreadful winter this was really encouraging.”

Bukola Woodburne-Dyer (below right) was the third Trackspeed1 athlete contesting the championships.  It was her first championship of any kind, and only her second proper club-level meet.  Her personal bests in both heat and semi-final, albeit slightly wind-assisted, were therefore a credit to the 13-year-old from Peckham.

Elsewhere, Savannah Echel-Thomson rediscovered the form that promised so much indoors before she suffered a severe bout of shin soreness.  ‘Savvy’ clocked a personal best-equalling 56.77s 400m in a Junior League meeting in Barnet, and went on to clock a lifetime best 200m of 25.17s.

In the annual inter-counties meeting at Bedford Trackspeed1 did not have its traditional representation mainly due to most athletes beginning their season a week later at the Bedford International Games, but Set Osho was due to line up in the 200m, with recent training form suggesting a personal best of some significance in the offering.  Watch this blog for an update!

POWELL FLU SCARE!!

A minor hiatus emerged from the closing stages of the Trackspeed1 pre-season training camp in Florida this week, as head coach, John Powell, revealed that he had been tested for Swine Flu!

Powell, who has suffered a winter full of flu and colds, contracted the symptoms on Tuesday, and decided to play safe and seek medical opinion.  "It was quite straight forward," said John, "the verdict was that only half the expression applied to me, and that certainly wasn't the flu part!"

Today (Wednesday) he was fit enough to train in the gym alongside his athletes, so hopefully the scare is now firmly behind him.  

"I'm on a bit of a fitness crusade here," he said, "and I'm just hoping I can adjust my routine to keep things going when I get home."

ELLINGTON REHAB'ING WELL

James Ellington (pictured) continued his fight back to fitness as the Trackspeed1 pre-season training camp in Florida headed toward its close this week.

As the photograph suggests, James is at long last apparently shaking off injuries that have blighted his recent career throughout 2007 and 2008.  The session at Disney's Wide World of Sports saw James back in blocks for the first time in months, with subsequent flat out runs looking equally as convincing.

It's been a productive trip for the 23-year-old European under-23 4x100m gold medalist in 2007, with the results of time trials (published earlier on this site) underlining his progression back to full fitness.  James is likely to be opening his competitive account at Bedford on May 31st, defending the title he won over 100m at the Bedford International Games.  Depending on further progress, he may also choose to contend the 200m at that meeting also.

Meanwhile, the latest update from across the Atlantic was that there could be a premature end to track work this week, as violent storms swept across Central Florida, with a forecast of more to come this week!

TS1 KICK OFF WITH A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER!

Trackspeed1 kicked off the new summer season in style with personal bests and championship records that now suggest there could be some very significant personal breakthroughs this year!

Competing in the various County Championship meetings around the south, the leading individual performance came from 16-year-old Frederica Foster (pictured), whose lifetime best of 40.2 seconds over 300m, also shattered the existing Kent Championships record, at Ashford.  She ran the same time in both heat and final, and ended runaway winner in both.

It was an especially remarkable performance, as she attends Alleyn's School in Dulwich, which had been closed all week due to an outbreak of swine flu.  She, along with all the other pupils at the school, had been forced to take a course of the tamiflu antedote all week, which does not come without some side effects.

Also at the same meeting was Trackspeed1 junior 400m athlete from Blackheath and Bromley Harriers, Alex Blair.  He put a solid winter's training to good use with a personal best on his first outing of the year, taking silver in 50.79s, which means he has now set lifetime best marks both indoors and out in the space of three months.

Phillip Doorgachurn has been working toward 200/400m training this last few months, but opted to put his basic speed to the test in the Surrey Championships at Kings Meadow.  He took fourth in the 100m in 10.87s, after finishing second in the 200m clocking 22.06s, marking one of his fastest openings to any season.  Four times Midland Champion Laura Langowski (pictured with medal alongside Phil) took silver in the Surrey 400m with a less satisfying performance born of a nasty virus she failed to shake off during the week.

Meanwhile, in the Sussex Championships, held at Crawley, Savannah Echel-Thomson was praying that problems with shin soreness of late would not prevent her from doing herself justice in the 200 and 400m.  It didn't, as she cruised to easy wins in the Junior Women's 400m clocking 57.0 seconds, and 25.3s in the 200m to claim double gold.

It was as if the lines of communication were open across the Atlantic, because the three athletes now nearing some sort of fitness in Florida also produced some alarmingly fast times in the squad's domestic time trials at Disney.

Set Osho put a ragged start to the trip well and truly behind him by abandoning the treatment table (pictured) as he stormed to the equivalent of a lifetime's best 46.8s over 400m - his  

second outing over the distance within 2  hours, amid 90-degree heat, while training partner Ryan Thomas also produced highly creditable 48.4 and 48.5 runs.

In the shorter events, and running solo, James Ellington produced a 15.8s 150m, 10.43s 100m, and 6.72 60m, the latter being described by leading USA sprints coach, Brooks Johnson, as "technically off the scale", and "virtual perfection".

Johnson, who is also the training consultant for Trackspeed1, was hugely impressed with Set Osho, describing him as "world class potential with just a few details to iron out technically".  

Trackspeed1 coach John Powell was delighted with all the results: "We have experienced an exceptionally tough winter with the weather really hindering training for the first time in many years.  We've had injuries that have not been short term, and it has been very frustrating at times.  But things certainly seem to be coming together now, and that is great."

All the TS1 performances at the counties will be updated in the next 24 hours on this website's rankings page.  The athletes in Florida return to the UK on Saturday May 16, and most will open their competitive account at the Bedford International Games on May 31st.