Trackspeed1 sprints group, based at Crystal Palace, look poised to become the first British sprints group to land a sponsor.
John Powell declined to say who it was, but did admit to being really excited at the prospect of outside support at last relieving him of single handedly backing his squad.
"It's been tough, and this is the last year I can continue supporting my athletes personally, so the possibility of outside support is fantastic," he said. "Combined with James Ellington's individual sponsor this year, it'a rhe best possible start to 2012 we could have dreamed of."
Saturday 28 January 2012
HUSSAIN A WINNER IN LONDON GAMES!
It may not be the biggest event of the year in the Capital, but for now Trackspeed1 sprinter Jason Hussain can look upon himself as a Games Champion in East London - which in 2012 is a pretty positive start to the year!
The 25-year-old Crawley AC speedster soared home to victory in the London Indoor Games today (January 28th) with a 200m time of 22.15s at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. It wasn't his best ever - far from it - and technically it was not one of his better outings - but it produced a win that sends him into the final phase of winter training on a positive note.
"I've had a week out with flu, and before that had a ten-day layoff with a hamstring problem, and have only been back training a fortnight, so I'll take that," he said after the race. His time is equivalent to performances a year ago when he was in better shape, and 2011 saw him end the summer with the fastest time of his life over the same distance outdoors!
"I have told my lot they can do what they like in January, but from next week we are back into winter training," said coach John Powell. "As I've said many times - everything is much earlier this year because of the Olympics, and I for one am not going to be caught out with athletes lacking endurance in what will be the biggest year for track and field in UK history!"
In the same meeting, Trackspeed1 under-20 Omardo Anson proved to be the second fastest in the meeting as a junior, recording 22.80s in his race, despite sensing a tight hamstring half way round.
"I couldn't open up properly on the back straight," he said afterwards, "and I didn't really attack the last bend as a result, but it was an ok run. I ran 22.3 last year outdoors, so it's at least as good as that. Running injury-free, I really hope this year will see a sub-22s run."
Omardo's success gave his coach extra satisfaction as an athlete recruited from his Met-Track scheme 18 months ago continues to progress in the sport.
"I have seen Omardo mature as a person as well as progress as an athlete," said John, "and that is massive job satisfaction for me."
Day two of the Games could see the action step up as James Ellington takes to the boards once more with the 60m tomorrow (Sunday 29th), along with Trackspeed1 sprinters Alex Ojo, David Bolarinwa, Kieran Daly, and others.
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| Jason (one from left) emerges victorious at the London Indoor Games |
"I've had a week out with flu, and before that had a ten-day layoff with a hamstring problem, and have only been back training a fortnight, so I'll take that," he said after the race. His time is equivalent to performances a year ago when he was in better shape, and 2011 saw him end the summer with the fastest time of his life over the same distance outdoors!
"I have told my lot they can do what they like in January, but from next week we are back into winter training," said coach John Powell. "As I've said many times - everything is much earlier this year because of the Olympics, and I for one am not going to be caught out with athletes lacking endurance in what will be the biggest year for track and field in UK history!"
In the same meeting, Trackspeed1 under-20 Omardo Anson proved to be the second fastest in the meeting as a junior, recording 22.80s in his race, despite sensing a tight hamstring half way round.
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| Omardo Anson is at his marks and ready to roll toward what was the second fastest 200m mark by a junior at the London Indoor Games |
Omardo's success gave his coach extra satisfaction as an athlete recruited from his Met-Track scheme 18 months ago continues to progress in the sport.
"I have seen Omardo mature as a person as well as progress as an athlete," said John, "and that is massive job satisfaction for me."
Day two of the Games could see the action step up as James Ellington takes to the boards once more with the 60m tomorrow (Sunday 29th), along with Trackspeed1 sprinters Alex Ojo, David Bolarinwa, Kieran Daly, and others.
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| Jason Hussain is set to go at Lee Valley! |
Monday 23 January 2012
ELLINGTON IN THE FORM OF HIS LIFE
James Ellington ended an amazing week on Sunday with four top class runs as he opened his brief indoor campaign at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, London.
Competing in the South Of England Championships, he posted four performances underlining that, even at this early stage in 2012, he is in the form of his life. In the semi-finals he ran 6.69s - equal to his lifetime fastest over 60 metres - before going on to cement that with 6.70s in the final to take joint third and a bronze medal.
The competition opened with a first round win in 7.03s run in a style so relaxed that both athlete and his coach John Powell drew breath at the ease with which he decimated the rest of the field. The second round was significantly faster with a 6.77s run winning that race too, with the series amounting to the best opening to an indoor season of his life.
Earlier in the week, James had been celebrating landing sponsor King of Shaves after the publicity around his attempt at attracting support through E-Bay stalled, and had again been the centre of significant worldwide media attention.
"James has had one hell of a week," said John Powell after the Lee Valley event. "His interviews have been beamed all over the globe after a totally innovative approach to getting support through E-Bay. He now has his sponsor and he is already justifying their support in showing world class potential at Lee valley.
"The guys he was running against had mostly been running indoors already and had already been posting some impressive times. this was James's first outing, and to be rubbing shoulders with his personal best first time out is simply astounding."
Training colleagues of James in his Trackspeed1 squad were mostly all in action at the same meeting with mixed fortunes. Outstanding individual of the day though was 19-year-old Kieran Daley, who ran a lifetime's best 60m of 6.96s - shaving over a tenth of a second off his best time of the 2011 indoor campaign.
Andrew Matthews enjoyed an encouraging opening to his season with first and second round 6.95s and 6.87s runs, but earned a roasting from his coach as he pulled up in the last 10 metres of the semi as he slipped out of the top two qualifying places!
Another athlete who was given the benefit of his coach's advice was David Bolarinwa, whose heat performance of 6.91s looked very impressive indeed. But in the second round, he false started and was immediately disqualified.
"There were aspects of his heat performance which, combined with a false start, which is unacceptable from an experienced international, that I felt were learning opportunities. He's competing again at the same venue on Sunday in the London Indoor games, and I suspect things will be rather different there!"
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| James with his South of England bronze medal at Lee Valley |
The competition opened with a first round win in 7.03s run in a style so relaxed that both athlete and his coach John Powell drew breath at the ease with which he decimated the rest of the field. The second round was significantly faster with a 6.77s run winning that race too, with the series amounting to the best opening to an indoor season of his life.
Earlier in the week, James had been celebrating landing sponsor King of Shaves after the publicity around his attempt at attracting support through E-Bay stalled, and had again been the centre of significant worldwide media attention.
"James has had one hell of a week," said John Powell after the Lee Valley event. "His interviews have been beamed all over the globe after a totally innovative approach to getting support through E-Bay. He now has his sponsor and he is already justifying their support in showing world class potential at Lee valley.
"The guys he was running against had mostly been running indoors already and had already been posting some impressive times. this was James's first outing, and to be rubbing shoulders with his personal best first time out is simply astounding."
Training colleagues of James in his Trackspeed1 squad were mostly all in action at the same meeting with mixed fortunes. Outstanding individual of the day though was 19-year-old Kieran Daley, who ran a lifetime's best 60m of 6.96s - shaving over a tenth of a second off his best time of the 2011 indoor campaign.
Andrew Matthews enjoyed an encouraging opening to his season with first and second round 6.95s and 6.87s runs, but earned a roasting from his coach as he pulled up in the last 10 metres of the semi as he slipped out of the top two qualifying places!
Another athlete who was given the benefit of his coach's advice was David Bolarinwa, whose heat performance of 6.91s looked very impressive indeed. But in the second round, he false started and was immediately disqualified.
"There were aspects of his heat performance which, combined with a false start, which is unacceptable from an experienced international, that I felt were learning opportunities. He's competing again at the same venue on Sunday in the London Indoor games, and I suspect things will be rather different there!"
Friday 20 January 2012
ELLINGTON SUCCEEDS BY HIS WHISKERS!
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| James gets the expert treatment from new sponsors 'King of Shaves, with CEO and Founder, Will King, giving a quick demonstration! |
The bid of well over the reserve price on E-Bay was revealed to be someone from overseas who misunderstood the process, and they withdrew, leaving James back at square one. But then came the sponsor who had for several years supported former Trackspeed1 sprinter and World Junior Championship 100m finalist Wade Bennett-Jackson.
James's story has been well documented in the media and has attracted world-wide interest. Channel 4 News compiled the report which can be seen at Olympics hopeful Ellington's close shave after ebay bid
www.channel4.com
Will King, CEO and founder of King of Shaves was delighted to support James, and was at the initial press launch of the deal at Crystal Palace track. All sorts of corny photo's and remarks were bandered about, but the widest smile was from the athlete who can now properly concentrate on preparing for what will be a massive year in an already illustrious career.
Trackspeed1 coach John Powell watched the launch and spoke to Channel 4, along with a Reuters crew a couple of days later:
"I am truly delighted for James, I really am," he said, "this deal has been a real life-shaver... sorry, saver!! In all seriousness it takes the pressure right off an athlete's shoulders. Always looking back at a depleting or near-empty bank balance, wondering where the money will come from to support travel, kit, equipment, you name it. At least for this year, James has none of those worries to contend with.
"We are exceptionally lucky in Trackspeed1 as we have a huge amount of good will from top therapists, Adidas who provide heavily discounted kit, and other sources who want to support us at home and abroad. But bottom line if you want to compete with the best, you have to be fully supported."
Meanwhile back at the office, James opened up his active 2012 account in a slightly different way than usual, competing in the South of England AA indoor 400m at Lee Valley last Sunday (15th). His 49.93s for the 2-lap sprint was an encouragement to his coach, although the semi-final saw him run out of steam on the final run-in.
"We aren't taking indoors particularly seriously this year, and most are only competing in January before getting back to a month or so of basics," he explained. "Everything is early this year with Olympic Trials in June, so we have to make sure there is enough gas in the tank to sustain peaks at the right time this summer."
Further pictures from the press launch follow...
Further pictures from the press launch follow...
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| James partners CEO Will King for his photo-shoot and press interviews, with mother Andrea joining him for a chat with Channel 4. |
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