Trackspeed 1 - News

POWELL SIGNS OFF

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:52:00 +0000

After 45 years in athletics, Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell has hung up his stopwatch and said goodbye to his training group.

His final coaching session yesterday at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre marked the end of a career assessed by many as the most successful in developing raw talent into new international calibre athletes in the UK. In so doing he has had athletes at every major championships or games in the athletics calendar including the Olympics an Commonwealth Games.

Coach John Powell leaves Crystal Palace
for the very last time after 45 years

The full story behind his decision to retire is told in an earlier blog on his Trackspeed1-UK website at https://ts1news.blogspot.com/2019/05/end-of-line-for-coach-powell.html

Speaking after putting his clipboard and cones away for the final time, John said: "It's going to be very strange at first, but having lost so much of the love and motivation I used to have for the sport, I think I will adapt ok. I've always said that if something came up in athletics I would always be keen to stay involved in the sporting some way - it's been my life since my teens for heaven's sake - but my coaching days are over.

Asked f he had any recriminations looking back, he continued: "Am I bitter? Yes. Disappointed? Yes. But I'm also immensely proud of what I've achieved and how I've had the privilege of being able to contribute to so many people's lives and futures. It's a huge part of coaching, and one thing nobody can take away from me."

John has already added to his CV the recent successful election as a member of the Board of Governors for the Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, and is being very proactive in leading the PTA at his young daughters' school. The athletes he has been guiding this summer will continue to consult him for the remainder the season, after which they will seek pastures new.

Reflective minutes after retirement:
John Powell looks on at the stadium he first frequented aged 15.

LAST FAREWELL BECKONS

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 20:46:00 +0000

It'll be the shortest blog on this site - simply to announce that after 45 years in the sport, Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell MBE will coach his last athlete session tomorrow (Monday 15th July) before heading off into retirement.

"The sport has drained me of all the passion and enthusiasm I once had," he said, "but this is the right decision now, albeit a bit of a life changer!"

END OF THE LINE FOR COACH POWELL

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sat, 11 May 2019 09:46:00 +0000

Athletics Weekly report on John Powell's shock announcement
that he will retire as a coach in July.

After 45 years in the sport, sprints coach John Powell is to retire, stating that his enthusiasm for the sport has been slowly sucked out of him by a system that is not fit for purpose.

As a coach who gained an international reputation for nurturing young talent to the highest echelons of the sport in the 1990's and the turn of the millennium, he feels his once insatiable desire to improve his athletes and progress as a coach has been repeatedly downtrodden by the sport's elitest policy.

Powell, who was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to the sport, has been revered by some as the most accomplished 'development' coach British Athletics has seen in recent years.

Over the years he has taken athletes to every major international championship and major games on the calendar, but the success rate has dwindled in recent years.

Added to this has been ongoing work with his 'Met-Track' charity of which he is CEO. This has seen him recruit vulnerable young Londoners into grass roots sport, some of whom have ultimately emerged at international level - and he will continue with this role.

John Powell joins forces with the Met-Police Commissioner and Lord
Sebastian Coe at a presentation in London for his Met-Track charity

"I've always been incredibly passionate, ambitious and determined in all that I do," he explains, "and that certainly includes coaching. But my love for the sport has been drained out of me.

"I was lucky to have some really successful squads with some great athletes in the past, but time and again, either the vultures swoop, or somehow athletes are persuaded the grass is greener elsewhere. And then you watch them - in most cases - fail to improve or, in some cases, slow right down!

"That triggers a chain reaction in your group and you suddenly find you're starting all over again from scratch. The same happened a few years ago and I lost the bullk of my squad. Yet the people who inherit my athletes are anything but disciplined for unethical conduct, but frequently elevated to elite status and even rewarded with positions on national teams.

"In years gone by I was honoured to help out with several GB and England teams, but as soon as you're not producing athletes of interest to the powers that be, that seems to be the end of that.

"This is the hardest decision of my life and will represent a massive change, but the love I've had for a sport that has been a part of who I am since the age of 15 has slowly but surely been eroded."

Powell's CV involves building and managing arguably the most successful youth scheme of the last century at then Blackheath Harriers and he went on to create a national championship-winning junior side wth Belgrave Harriers.

He continued to join coaching staff at British junior and under-23 international level, and also helped England teams at several indoor internationals.

He held official positions such as secretary of the AAA track and field committee, director of coaching in Kent, was Vice-President of Blackheath Harriers until 1993 and President of Belgrave Harriers 2014-16.

He is also currently chair of the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership representing key stakeholders in the debate around the future of the national sports centre.

While critical of the athletics establishment, he also feels athletes above the "fun club level" have been made to expect "everything for nothing" and have become in some cases extremely selfish.

"You can't tar everyone with the same brush," he says, "but I continue to be aghast at how athletes expect you to be at their disposal night and day - and then moan if you dare to say 'no'.

John at a recent (and probably final) pre-season training venue in Clermont, Florida

Over the last 20 years, the now retired Police Superintendent took out bank loans and remortgaged his house to ensure he could follow his athletes all over the globe. In the process he developed numerous international links, not least in the US where he was at one time a member of the voluntary coaching staff at Harvard University.

He has since nurtured links at University of Virginia, UCLA and University of Southern California among others.

"The level of respect, and status offered to coaches in the US is stratospheric compared to the UK, and British athletes could well do with taking a leaf out of their book in that respect," he continues.

"I would love to stay in the sport in some sort of role - administration, management, coach education or even officiating if something comes along," he concludes.

"But I am really disenchanted that, after all these years, for all my enthusiasm and experience, what I have to offer as a coach and experienced senior manager has been ignored to the point of ultimate decline and termination."

Powell's swan song will be in July when he takes his final coaching session at Crystal Palace before leaving on a family holiday.

DAYTIME SESSIONS EXCITE, BUT POWELL SPEAKS OUT

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:01:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell has announced significant but exciting changes to the squad for when training begins for the 2018-19 winter period, but has also spoken out on how he almost put away his stop watches this summer. The 2018-19 set-up for Trackspeed1-UK includes:

Daytime sessions based on morning 10am starts;
Trackside therapy;
Heavily discounted track access;
Consultant advice on nutrition, strength & conditioning based both in the USA and at home;
Top level physiotherapy at 50% if/when needed;
Full written training plans;
Free access to all track equipment;
6 weeks' pre-season training in Florida.

John writes...

It was an amazing period - from when I divorced myself from youth team management in 1993, right up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. I travelled the world following my athletes - European or World Junior Championships almost every year, and eventually some European and World senior Championships. And of course the Olympic Games in Athens and London. It was my life, it was so addictive. Watching my athletes progress and succeed was a buzz beyond all other. I used every day of my work annual leave allocation (and some!), remortgaged my house and took out loans to finance my travels, and supported my athletes in every way I knew of on and off the track.

John Powell has reshaped his coaching routine heading into 2019

Even the frustrations of building an athlete from grass roots up to international calibre, only to watch them move away (and in most cases fail to improve), didn't really deter me. I did have a blip in 2005, but then in came a great new bunch of sprinters and the love was reborn. Travels took me to and from the States, to South Korea, Russia, Singapore, Italy, Lithuania, and heaven knows how many other obscure corners of the world. I met some amazing people, some of whom I'm still in touch with. My athletes won European Championship gold medals, a World Students gold, three medals in one European Junior Championships, European Youth Olympics titles, you name it.

Then came the exodus.

Athletes were either poached or left the group having been persuaded the grass was greener somewhere else. Others left as a result seeing the fall in standards as their cue to look elsewhere. Whilst a couple of talents remained - for a while - the glory days had faded, and any interest from the powers that be in the sport instantly evaporated.

The years following 2012 were difficult, although we did produce some talents, but again they were ultimately attracted elsewhere. The level of performance in the squad plummeted - and so did the coach's motivation! So many senior names had been knocking at the door in 2012 such was the squad's success level. I was even interviewed for Charles Van Commenee's post. Now all this was but a distant memory. Even The Queen didn't have any influence when we met in 2013!

The point is, I've always been an ambitious, and this coaching gig was going really well in the noughties (2000 on...) with involvement in national teams boosting the CV despite still holding a full time job off track. (I'm one of those strange people who still thinks to have anything to do with representing your country is a huge honour!) But as the athletes migrated, so did the apparent interest from those on high. We had produced some serious talent over the years, but that didn't seem to count any more. Constant reassurance that there remained respect for our set-up was constantly ignored when it came to selection of coaches for national teams. It had to be full time staff, one was told. Strange that so many appointments have been made in recent years with no apparent advertising (assuming they really are UKA staff!) The teeth kicking continued too with the offer of fast track coach qualifications for international athletes. Support / reward for existing coaches? Don't be silly.

The 2017/18 winter was my toughest, and for a long time I was praying for July when I would finally retire from the sport that has been my life for 45 years - 42 as a coach. That has changed with a few close friends counselling the idea of daytime coaching and a radical reshape of the group. I'm already excited about the coming new training year. We may not have any superstars in the group (yet?!), but we certainly have some potential, so we'll see how we go into 2019. If it is to be my final 12 months with clip board and stop watch, then so be it - at least I gave it one last real try!

It's especially frustrating though - at one point I honestly thought I had created something pretty special, but it seems that athletes - and some coaches - are extremely selfish people. I have told my athletes many times that so many years of holding a stop watch does not make one a good coach, and you should only ever be judged on results. The squad continue to PB in most cases, so I guess I'm getting something right, but maybe operating at the level I aspired to for so long simply wasn't meant to be. Sometimes life sucks!

John Powell MBE is a level 4 coach in speed and level 3 in jumps and hurdles, and he has worked with coaches or created links with coaching staff all over the world including Harvard University, University of Virginia, and the Institute of Sport for New South Wales, Australia. His CV is attached on the Trackspeed1-UK website.

REON LEAPS INTO TOP UK LISTS

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 07:38:00 +0000

It's a few years since Trackspeed1-UK produced top level horizontal jumper, but they have certainly unearthed one in 22-year-old Reon Gowan-Wade.

A year of niggles meant his coach kept him away from the rigours of the long jump runaway, but last night (June 11th) he made his comeback at last and jumped straight into the UK top 30!

Reon in Long Jump action at Norman Park

Competing at his club's home open meeting at Norman Park, Bromley, Reon leapt 7.20 metres to rank 27th in the UK, and immediately put himself forward as a leading exponent of the event in the next 12 months.

"It's been frustrating not being able to get back on the runway and see what I can do," he said after the event, "but it would have been foolish to risk an annoying niggle in my hip with such an explosive event. I could manage with simple running, but it has been a very stop-start winter, so I need another year to get back in event-specific shape."

Reon has been around since he was 13, but not really broken through in the sport but now, with plans for a full winter programme ahead of him, both he and coach John Powell are convinced he can convert at last to a real threat nationally.

"Reon lacks strength and is not particularly fit compared with where he should be," said John. "He worked hard in our pre-season US training camp, but he needs to start from scratch, get fit and strong, avoid further injury, and we could have a bit of a star our hands next year."

As for the rest of this season, Reon intends to keep it reasonably low key with open meetings and more training just to see what he can achieve before the summer break. He'll get back into preparatory training for winter in September.

Reon follows in the footsteps of several top horizontal jumpers produced in the past through Trackspeed-UK. They include internationals Phillips Idowu, Darren Thompson and Onen Eyong.

Chaka Maillet (far left) and Daryl Thomas (right) were other
trackspeed1-UK athletes in action at Norman Park
- here setting off over 200 metres

SPRINTERS ON FIRE!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Thu, 24 May 2018 08:45:00 +0000

To say it has been a positive start to the 2018 summer season appears to be something of an understatement, after lifetime bests were shattered at Lee Valley last might (May 23rd)!

They may have had positive wind readings on their tail, but with major championships still a few weeks away, Trackspeed1-UK athletes competing in a Lee Valley Athletics Centre Open meet underlined just the sort of 'on fire' form they are in right now.

Brandon Murray - in form of his life at Lee Valley

Brandon Murray, who was forced to pull out of the Loughborough International on Sunday (May 20th) at the last minute due to work commitments, made amends by clocking his fastest 100 metres of his life by far of 10.62 seconds.

That was in race 3 while, in race 2, Dean Hylton clocked a windy 10.54 seconds, most notable as he out-dipped England and Senegal international Josh Swaray, who has times below 10.3 to his name, and was also ahead of former inter-counties champion Jonathan Browne.

Rhys Francis, Daryl Thomas and Chaka Maillet were also circling their best ever 100m sprint times, but will have to wit until another day to record a wind-legal time but, as their coach, John Powell, commented, all the indications are that they are all ready to improve significantly this season.

"These were really good performances at a time in the season where confidence is all important," he said. "We have a while yet before the big meets, but to get a couple of really good performances under your belt at this stage is always a very good springboard."

This weekend shows no competition for the squad, and so they will be looking to further improve their potential with some training sessions at their training base at Crystal Palace.

That said, Welsh international Cameron Starr opens his account over 200 metres tonight (May 24th) at Portsmouth, where he will be looking to emulate his training group's successes 24 hours earlier.

Welsh international Cameron Starr opens his 2018
account over 200m in Portsmouth tonight (May 24th)

COUNTY DOUBLE FIRES UP SPRINT DUO

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Mon, 14 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK sprinters opened their championship campaign for 2018 with a sensational one-two in the Surrey County 100m final, securing both Gold and Silver in a hotly contested event at Kings Meadow, Kingston on Sunday (13th May).

Dean Hylton (6) and Cameron Starr (13) on their way to an
impressive County one-two at the Surrey Championships.

Dean Hylton was no stranger to the county rostrum, having won bronze, three silvers and now two golds over recent years, but he had to fight to retain his title from last year with training partner Cameron Starr hot on his heels.

In the heats both athletes cruised through to qualify, winning heats in each case comfortable ahead of all the opposition.

In the final, Starr was the sharper out of the blocks, and was leading after 60 metres, but Hylton switched on the after-burners to overtake and win the title by just under a tenth of a second.

Dean and Cameron receive their medals alongside
third-placed Tremayne Gilling

It marked a perfect opener for two of Trackspeed1-UK's most talented athletes and, although times were not the fastest they have ever posted, it lined them up nicely for their next outing at the annual Loughborough International next Sunday (20th May).

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell, was pleased with the outcome with both athletes recording times far faster than their opening campaign 12 months earlier. Hylton clocked 10.72s, while Starr recorded 10.80, both faced with a slight headwind.

"It's always nice to kick things off in the summer with winning performances," said John, "and a County one-two, especially in Surrey, is no mean achievement. I would fully expect both Dean and Cameron to improve now as the season progresses, and I'm really looking forward to seeing quite a few of the group in action now.

"As always, we've had a challenging winter at times with the weather curtailing some sessions, but we still have athletes in pretty good shape, and they are ready to roll over the next couple of weeks."

The squad have athletes in action at the open meeting at Lee Valley this Wednesday (May 16th), and Brandon Murray joins Hylton and Starr at the Loughborough international event on Sunday.

It's all smiles as Head Coach John Powell congratulates his two medalists

JEROME TRIUMPHS IN ONE-LAP DEBUT

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 20:32:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK sprinter Jerome Lule emerged triumphant after his first ever competitive 400 metres in Clermont, Florida, today with a time that was surely a statement of intent for the future!

The 21-year-old Shaftesbury Harrier clocked 50.56 seconds to win his round of the event Stateside, confirming what his coach had been saying the whole trip that this was to ultimately be his main event!

Cross-winds made the going far from easy, but despite his vast lack of experience over the longer sprint, Lule judged the pace well, and finished strongly to hold off the opposition.

Trackspeed1-UK's Jerome Lule (centre) wins his first ever
400m race in Clermont, clocking 50.56s.

"I was pleased with the way it went," said the athlete after the event, " but know now I can go well inside 50 seconds. John told me I ran wide in my lane on the first bend, and it was really hard work with the wind blowing you all over the place."

It was the season's opener for the squad after they pulled out of the earlier meeting at Gainesville. Sprint times were down, illustrated by the fact that one of the world's fastest men, Tyson Gay, ran only 10.28s, and the visiting German National team couldn't produce anything faster than 10.48.

"The wind was across and hence the readings, plus or minus, couldn't be totally reliable," said John. I was expecting faster of our guys - my timing isn't that far out, and marks were way faster in our time trials two weeks ago.

"This was only the first meet of the year though, and from that you simply need to learn from your performance what you can, then put it away and move on. There is zero doubt that there is way more to come from these lads, and they will need to be patient until the season is properly under way."

Reon Gowan-Wade ran his first competitive 200 metres since a young teen, clocking a creditable 22.42 seconds, while James Kasiriye-Sebalu was just outside his best with 22.67s.

Reon Gowan-Wade (2nd from right) on way to a lifetime best 200 metres

In the 100m Brandon Murray was the unluckiest of the bunch with a recorded -2.2m/s headwind, yet he still posted 10.89s.

Brandon Murray (142) clocked 10.89 in the 100m

"Lots to be encouraged by, and some aspects to learn from," concluded John, "which isn't a bad place to be at this stage of the year."

Trackspeed1-UK's pre-season Stateside camp draws to its conclusion at the end of this next week when all return to the UK to engage with the outdoor season proper.

LIFETIME BESTS SHATTERED IN EARLY TRIALS

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 17:35:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK held their own early season time trials today in the Florida sunshine of their pre-season training camp in Clermont - and every athlete promptly shattered previous best ever marks over 60m, 100m, 200m or 400m sprints.

It was an impressive day's work which succeeded in kicking well into touch most of head coach John Powell's predictions as previous best recorded marks were rubbished by every member of the squad.

It is true that times were wind assisted, and it is true that all times were unofficial, but even allowing for these variables, performances featured some really good top end sprinting.

Possibly the most impressive was 20-year-old Croydon man, Brandon Murray, who had only ever run over 23 seconds for the 200 metres. Hence his 20.98 seconds around half a lap was nothing short of stunning. This after another huge PB of 10.41 in a 100m contest with training partner Cameron Starr.

Brandon Murray smashed PB's over 200m,
100m and 60m in squad trials.

Welsh international, Starr, has been promising much this season with some classy training sessions both back in the UK and more recently Stateside, but even he could not have predicted 10.28s even allowing for the following wind and a possibly marginally generous timekeeper!

Welsh international Cameron Starr hit impressive form
over 100m Stateside.

Next up came 21-year-old Shaftesbury Harrier Jerome Lule. Assessed for a long time by his coach as a budding 400m athlete, his track record to date was solely over 100m and 200m. After his first attempt at the one-lap sprint even he had to admit it might be his future with a very solid 50.88 second effort.

Trackspeed1-UK have a pretty impressive set-up this year with 2012 Olympics medical lead John Allen providing physio' support, Mark Stanton strength and conditioning coordination, Alex Starr offering nutrition advice, plus Bukola Woodburne Dyer as massage therapist. All this alongside the still active international partnerships developed over the years in America and Australia.

"After a period that has seen the squad a little in the wilderness, there are some exciting plans for the future now," said John Powell. We have a potential set-up that will have alot to offer athletes over the coming season and next winter's training programme."

Meanwhile, back at their Florida base, Daryl Thomas trashed his 2015 200m best of over 23 seconds with a 22.13 second effort, while Reon Gowan-Wade established a solid opening 200m of 21.78 seconds.

"All these times come with a huge health warning," said John, "but they aren't so far out as to say that they weren't all PB's, because they were all so far inside previous best marks. It was the best possible start to the 2018 outdoor season and a great consolation for not competing at the annual meet in Gainesville where prohibitive entry fees proved a step too far on top of a two and a half hour drive."

Trackspeed1-UK will open their formal competitive programme now at their training base in Clermont where there is an open meeting on Saturday April 28th.

Trackspeed1-UK squad therapist
Bukola Woodburne-Dyer helps Reon
Gowan-Wade on the road to recovery
after the group's trials efforts

STATESIDE PREP LOOKING CLASSY ALREADY

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 19:10:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK athletes are already beginning to produce signs that 2018 could be their year, as they put together some classy training workouts in the United States.

Based at their annual pre-season camp at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Clermont, Florida, the dramatic change in climate from the chaotic British winter seems to have worked already as a strong motivator.

Conditions at the NTC are not even closely matched to the squad's London home at Crystal Palace and, combined with sunshine, 80-degrees, and six-star facilities, their new, albeit temporary, home seems to have proved inspirational.

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell reviews one of the squad's
early sessions with sprinter Reon Gowan-Wade

"We don't have the whole squad out here this year," said Head Coach, John Powell, "as trips like this do not come cheap. We are lucky enough to have four sponsors who are supporting us, or we would still be huddled in a corner of the indoor track at Crystal Palace.

"There is a huge imbalance in our sport now," he continued. "The elite end of athletics have pretty much whatever they need both financially, in facilities, coaching expertise and support services, and the gap between them and the rest is not getting any smaller.

That said, we are above a huge majority of UK athletes in having this opportunity not only to train here pre-season, but also to learn from the world class company that train here already."

The squad's base in Clermont is home to some of the United States' most accomplished athletes, not least the second fastest man of all time, Tyson Gay.

"That in itself is a huge motivator," added John. "Today we met the team manager and lead coach from Equador who had a couple of their elite athletes training here, including a London Olympic finalist. The mutual learning opportunities are amazing.

"We are also exceptionally lucky to have additional expertise as part of our party, not least Dr John Allen, one of the most experienced physiotherapists in the United Kingdom. Add to that the Strength and Conditioning / Nutrition advice of squad consultant Mark Stanton, and the services of Sports Therapist Bukola Woodburne-Dyer, and it's a pretty impressive set-up this year!"

Reon and training partner Welsh International Cameron Starr
in action during an early session in Clermont.

Trackspeed1-UK athletes open their 2018 outdoor account next Friday 13th April when they travel north to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Memorial meet, held at the University of Florida track - a notoriously fast surface that could see some fast early times produced.

WARMING UP NICELY FOR SUMMER!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 10:42:00 +0000

The temperature may still be single figures out there, but Trackspeed1-UK athletes are warming up nicely for summer.

Their winter training programme, reshaped on previous years, is beginning to show some very positive signs, according to head coach John Powell, as sessions wind down from the intensity of winter toward the speed-based foundations preparing for summer.

Although quiet on the news front, the squad have been working hard at Crystal Palace, with John doubling in his role as chairman of the Crystal Palace Sports Partnership, a stakeholder group fighting to preserve facilities in the long term at the sports centre he has coached at now for over 42 years.

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell talks
to the BBC about the future of Crystal Palace
- his coaching base for over four decades.
(To be broadcast BBC London News, April)

Many of the squad will be traveling Stateside at the end of this month to attend their annual warm weather training camp in Clermont, Florida, where athletes are guaranteed top notch facilities in a climate far more reliable and appropriate to sprinting than the UK.

"It's a great facility at the National Training Centre in Clermont," said John, "and together with the excellent climate it always represents a golden opportunity for athletes to focus on themselves as athletes 24/7 while they are there, and really put in some top class sessions that prepare them ideally for the coming summer season."

The squad will compete in two meetings while in Florida, one based at their training venue in Clermont, and the other at the University of Florida track in Gainesville.

COLDER, TOUGHER, BETTER - SQUAD AND ACADEMY DIG INTO WINTER!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:49:00 +0000

The days and nights are getting colder, and the training is getting tougher, but both the Trackspeed1-UK mainstream athletes and their Academy understudies are grafting away now with more PB's already predicted on the horizon!

The select few who currently populate the Academy are progressing well after an initial month of tutelage under Head Coach John Powell,and now with former Jamaican Junior International, Dean Hylton. (Any new faces interested in theTS1-UK Academy - or mainstream squad - should email John Powell direct at trackspeed1@hotmail.com)

The main squad are well into their autumn programme now too, with a revised approach to winter by their coach already showing positive results. Spectacular improvements by some of the squad during 2017 summer has set the bar high for 2018, and so John is eager to build on that success.

Ishmael Smith-John improved over 100m in 2017 from
11.12s to 10.79s. 'More to come in 2018' says his coach!

"The intensity of training is greater this time round," he explained, "and there is a greater thread of speed throughout the year. We have also devised a strength and conditioning programme that integrates well with what everyone is doing on the track thanks in no small way to input from our S & C consultant, Mark Stanton.

"The Academy athletes are going well too. We have a couple of really exciting prospects who could well form the next generation of Trackspeed1-UK graduates."

As the UK winter kicks in, coaching eyes are already on final preparations for summer though, with plans for the squad's annual trip to Florida in March/April now well under way.

"This trip is a key part of any athlete's preparation for summer," said John, "and this year we have been able to whittle the price down significantly, and hence I am very much hoping as many of the squad can travel as possible."

WINTER BECKONS AFTER ANOTHER USA TOUR

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 10:42:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach, John Powell, is back in the UK after another hook-up with coaches in the USA prior to the squad returning for full-on winter training next week.

The highlight of John's visit in Los Angeles was his meeting with Quincy Watts and Joanna Hayes, both coaches at the University of Southern California. Watts won the Olympic 400 metres title in 1992 (Barcelona) and Hayes the gold in Athens 2004 over 100 metres hurdles.

John Powell meets Quincy Watts and Joanna Hayes at USC

John with USC Head Coach for Track and Field,
Caryl Smith-Gilbert

"It was amazing to meet two such celebrated athletes turned coaches and to chat and see the facilities at USC," said John, who also visited the infamous University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

At UCLA, he mingled with some of the 50,000 students, and viewed more awesome facilities, with another priceless hook-up with new speed coach Curtis Allen.

The track and field facility at UCLA

"Both schools have amazing facilities and certainly nothing we could rival," said John," but there again it is the USA, and their country is a little larger than ours, and in California they have the rather significant advantage of sunshine pretty much the year round!"

Trackspeed1-UK athletes are already into preparatory training at their Crystal Palace base, getting into shape for when their full winter programme kicks in next week. They will be looking to elaborate on the outstanding personal bests in many cases set during the 2017 summer.

A new Academy of high school pupils added to existing numbers will also be eagerly engaging with their sights set on graduating to their senior counterparts in future years.

"We have a history of over 40 years of recruiting raw talent and seeing some of it emerge in later years at international level," said John, "and that is a tradition we are very proud of. The Academy set-up now provides the opportunity for local young athletes to take advantage of a great training set-up - who knows what it may produce in the future."

The Academy training programme is devised and structured by John, with coaching delivery by former Jamaican Junior International, Dean Hylton, who is in his fifth year of training with the senior squad.

More images from John Powell's LA trip here...

UCLA shade the track relay boxes for
greater clarity in race meetings

A gigantic astroturf area next-door to the track provides an awesome
addition for athlete training away from the hard but very fast track surface

The track and field facility at USC

Two views of the strength and conditioning room at USC

A view of part of the strength and conditioning facility at UCLA

TRACKSPEED1-UK CLOSE TO ANOTHER SUPER SEASON

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 14:49:00 +0000

As the domestic season is soon to give way to the World Championships in London, Trackspeed1-UK are already reflecting on another hugely successful season for the majority of their athletes.

Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell (centre) welcomes members of the
Maldivian delegation, competing in next month's World Championships, at Crystal Palace.

As Head Coach John Powell hosted the Maldivian sprinter Hassan Saaid and coach Ahmed Faail at Crystal Palace ahead of the global event next month, many of his squad were signing off their competitive season on a high.

The Loughborough European Athletics Permit meet on Sunday (22nd) saw Ishmael Smith-John crack the 11-second mark for the third time with a 10.92s sprint in cold and rain, while Cameron Starr's 10.82 was a likewise solid performance given that the English summer had abandoned the meeting!

Dean Hylton, whose year had seen him run faster than ever before came to a close at the British League event a week ago, while David Bolarinwa clocked a healthy 10.51 at the Loughborough meet, and is now looking ahead to a race in the Olympic Stadium on August 2nd before his final couple of meetings later in the month.

Brandon Murray was the first athlete to make a huge breakthrough taking his lifetime best down from 11.12 to 10.71, with training partner Ishmael Smith-John following suit, annihilating his previous fastest 100m of 11.14s with a 10.79s effort at a Rochester open meeting earlier this month.

Ishmael Smith-John - in the form of his life this summer!

Early season also took 400m sprinter Niclas Baker into new territory with a 47.05m run in the USA, while newcomer Reon Wade took to the track for the first time at Newham in early July and clocked a shock 11.05s on the back of very little preparation, earning him the label of 'surprise package' for 2018!

"We may not have anyone at the World Championships," commented John Powell, "but we have had some really significant breakthroughs this year, which have lined up a potentially very high standard for 2018. I really believe we have a few guys this year who could be turning heads next!"

ISHMAEL SHATTERS HIS LIFETIME FASTEST!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:11:00 +0000

Yet another lifetime best mark has been annihilated by a trackspeed1-UK sprinter - this time it was the turn of Ishmael Smith-John to produce not one, but the two fastest 100 metre sprints of his life at the weekend.

Ishmael Smith-John's PB at the weekend moves him to
within 8 places of the top 100 sprinters in the UK for 2017!

The 21-year-old Blackheath and Bromley AC athlete began the year with a 2016 best ever of 11.12 seconds, but at the Medway track in Rochester on Sunday all of that changed

First he cracked the infamous 11-second barrier with a wind-legal 10.92s, but then in the second round of the open meeting, he switched on the after-burners up the home straight to record another wind-legal time - this time of 10.79 seconds.

Ishmael - one of Trackspeed1-UK's most dedicated and hard-working athletes, having barely missed a training session since he joined the group back in 2014 - now rates as one of the most improved sprinters in the country at this level, with a host of new opportunities now available as a result.

When he began with the Crystal Palace-based training group he had a recorded best of 11.32s over 100m, but improved that pretty quickly to 11.17 in 2015, albeit levelling out a little in 2016 with a slightly improved 11.12s. 2017, however, has launched him into a different stratosphere of sprinting.

"I'm looking to compete in the European Athletics Permit meeting at Loughborough in a couple of weeks now I have the entry standard," he said after his achievement on Sunday, and coach John Powell endorsed his athletes new pitch:

"These were outstanding performances by Ishmael," he said, "and it is only right that he takes advantage of some good quality races now - not necessarily to set more new PB's, although we obviously hope he does, but to gain more experience of running at this level and above."

Ishmael joins training partner Brandon Murray as another hugely improved athlete this year, having moved his best 100m time down from 11.16s to 10.71s this year.

Meanwhile, their coach is doing his bit to add to the Trackspeed1-UK list of 2017 achievements, having been asked to act as team coach for the South of England Junior team competing in the home international in Cardiff on Wednesday (12th July).

HYLTON'S BREAKTHROUGH SEASON

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 17:03:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK sprinter Dean Hylton is enjoying his most successful season yet in his illustrious if a little turbulent track career.

Dean Hylton at Newham after he destroyed the opposition
to record a lifetime's fastest 21.29s over 200 metres.

Running at Newham Leisure Centre on Sunday he destroyed his lifetime's best 200 metres time with a 21.29 second run (wind speed +2.0m/s) that obliterated the opposition.. And that came after a thoroughly decent 10.60 100m sprint a couple of hours earlier.

Hylton, a former Jamaican Junior International, has struggled to find his form the last couple of seasons, and has suffered his fair share of injuries, but 2017 has seen the breakthrough he has threatened for so long, and he is confident there is more to come.

"I could have run faster in the 200m at Newham," he said, "but I haven't run any 200's this year and I'm a bit rusty. The 100 has been better this year too though, so I am slowly getting it together."

Dean levelled with his fastest ever 100m a week ago with a 10.56 effort at Lee Valley, but already has one eye on next year, with clearance to apply for a British passport expected this Autumn.

Yet again this summer, Trackspeed1-UK athletes have been bus setting personal best times in the sprints, and most now have improved on their 2016 marks. The newest name to the squad, Reon Wade, wasn't planning to run this year having done very little fitness work, but after impressing his coach in training he was persuaded to run at Newham.

He duly obliged with a lifetime's fastest 11.05 seconds over 100m, having had no blocks practice and precious little technical work. It was a performance that underlined coach John Powell's aspirations for him in 2018.

"Reon is going to be a real talent if he puts the work in over winter," said John, "and I have every confidence he will turn a few heads next year over both 100 and 200 metres."

Meanwhile in Birmingham, David Bolarinwa was contesting the 100 metres at the British Championships, and ran well to reach the semi-finals. He clocked 10.56s in the heats, and 10.50 in the semi's, finishing 6th in the latter in an extraordinary race containing ten athletes.

"David is work in progress," said John Powell. "He proved his worth a few weeks ago with a windy 10.29s 100m at Lee Valley, and as long as he sticks with it, he can easily surpass the lifetime best wind legal 10.29 he set several years ago."

With no sponsor to prop the group up the squad's competitive agenda has been restricted to the UK and mostly London-based competitions, but that is not preventing a capable group of sprinters improve steadily through the summer.

One of the most spectacular improvements on 2016 is Brandon Murray, who has taken his 100m time down from 11.1 to 10.7 this season, although his hamstring strain in a race surely destined to beat even that mark at Lee Valley 10 days ago, will mean he has to wait a little longer before he has the chance to edge in to the 10.6's!

WIND-UP OF THE YEAR!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Mon, 15 May 2017 09:51:00 +0000

The link below is to Channel 4's catch-up page for the "Britain Today Tonight" programme aired on Friday May 12th, 2017.

It features Trackspeed1-UK athletes who thought they were visiting a guest Russian physiotherapist.

The truth could not have been more different!

A hilarious outcome courtesy of the production team in association with TS1 head coach John Powell!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/britain-today-tonight/on-demand/60696-003

Or simply play this...

HONOURS SHARED!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sun, 14 May 2017 19:49:00 +0000

It was a blanket finish, the clock didn't stop, and they had to wait an hour for the final result, but Dean Hylton and Brandon Murray both ended medal winners after a thrilling Surrey County 100m senior men's 100 metres final!

Dean Hylton (12) on his way to gold, and Brandon Murray (17) bronze,
in the Surrey County AA 100m senior men's 100m final at Kingston

Blackheath and Bromley's Hylton edged over the line ahead of Herne Hill's Marvin Popoola, with Murray hooked onto their shirt tails. All three men clocked 10.9 seconds according to the manual timekeepers stacked above the finish line.

Winds have been the curse of early season competitions for Trackspeed1-UK athletes, and the sprints at Kingston's Kingsmeadow stadium were no different. Wind speeds fluctuated but all the sprints faced a headwind of anything up to and beyond 3 metres per second.

Trackspeed1-UK sprinters Dean Hylton and Brandon
Murray on the medal rostrum in Kingston

With most other squad athletes still recovering from traveling back across the Atlantic from their pre-season training camp barely a week earlier, County duty featured few of the Crystal Palace-based group.

Calvin Kirstein was outside the medals in the Sussex 100m final in fourth, but was involved in a gold medal performance in the 4x100m relay, where his Eastbourne Rovers quartet set a new club record. Ishmael Smith-John won silver in the Kent 200m at Ashford despite a gale blowing him backwards in the final.

Twenty-four hours before Hylton and Murray took to the tartan in Kingston, Trackspeed-UK's Cameron Starr took silver in the 200m senior men's final clocking 21.99s amid another swirling wind. Niclas Baker took bronze in the Middlesex 200m final at Lee Valley - again into a huge headwind - with training partner Jerome Lule in fifth to make it six medals out of eight performances for the squad over the weekend.

SQUAD'S FINAL TUNE-UP STATESIDE

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:08:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK athletes fly back to the UK this weekend after their final pre-season tune-up, at their annual training camp at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida

Trackspeed1-UK's squad in Florida this year including strength
and conditioning assistant, Mark Stanton (far right), and top
British physiotherapist Dr John Allen (second from left)

Already announced by head coach John Powell as another huge step toward a great 2017 summer season, many of their number will be returning with new lifetime best performances already after competing in the two track meetings in Clermont and Gainesville last month.

It will have been the eighteenth annual training camp John Powell will have led in the US, some of the earlier years having been based at the Disney facility (now run by ESPN) near Orlando.

"The National Training Center (NTC) offers everything we could wish for," said John. "It has been very popular this year with British, German and Canadian national teams also working out there, along with a number of independent groups, not least local American Olympians and internationals.

"Sessions are always very well coordinated though, and shared usage of the outstanding weight room and cardio facilities, never mind the track, is always very well organised. Generally speaking I don't like crowded tracks, but here it simply isn't a problem, we are always well looked after."

Trackspeed1-UK athletes in training at Clermont (above & below)
under the watchful eye of John Powell

An added bonus for two of Trackspeed1-UK's number was a blocks session this week under the watchful eye of leading US sprints coach, Lance Brauman, and amid his world class squad of athletes. David Bolarinwa and Cameron Starr gave more than a good account of themselves against some of the best.

"I have no qualms with athletes dipping into another coach's session like that," said John who eagerly scrutinised the session himself. "In fact giving up an opportunity to work with a group like that would be positively criminal - and in any case, another set of coaching eyes is always welcome at this stage."

Top American sprints coach Lance Brauman supervises
as David Bolarinwa gets set to impress (above),
while Cameron Starr gets some one-on-one attention (below)

Early competitions for Trackspeed1-UK back on UK soil will feature the County Championships in 10 days' time, the Loughborough International, and other local invitation meetings.

BAKER LAPS IT UP AS PB's CONTINUE TO FALL

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 14:46:00 +0000

Niclas Baker capped the best start to the season of his life with a huge personal best 400m run in the Tom Jones Memorial meeting, in Gainesville, Florida.

Niclas Baker (2272) heads for hime in the 400m Stateside

Despite windy conditions he swept round the University of Florida track to win his heat in 47.05 seconds - almost half a second faster than the lifetime's fastest mark set last year of 47.41s.

It came a fortnight after a very impressive, albeit very windy, 20.89s (+5.9m/s) 200m sprint in Clermont, and sets him up for a great summer season that will see him competing both at home and on European soil.

It was another very solid day at the office for Trackspeed1-UK athletes, most of whom sent existing lifetime best marks into the history books. Cameron Starr showed the form that has promised on the training track with two of the fastest sprints of his life.

Cameron Starr (2277) on his way to his fastest ever 100m sprint
in Gainesville, Florida

In the 100m, a breeze slightly over the legal limit at 2.7m/s saw him cross the line in 10.69 seconds - his fastest ever recorded time for the event. Better was to come in the 200m though, when he dismissed his 22.08s best mark for 200m with a 21.87 wind-legal run with the breeze measured at +1.4m/s.

"Cameron's 200m best time was a farce, and will undoubtedly be lowered still further this year," commented coach John Powell, "and his 100m performances will improve as we increasingly shake hands with speed work in training.

"Niclas's performance was little surprise as we have known for some time that he is a serious talent over 400m, and the various components of his race are gradually coming together.

"Athletes always seek instant success at these meetings, and when it doesn't always materialise they panic, but it's only April, and their training programme is not designed to see them peak the minute they hit the track. There are far more important meetings further own the line in June and July.

"That said, it was very pleasing to see how most of the squad executed their races, with most shaving a little bit off their best times. Solid runs at this stage are always good for confidence as we return to the UK in a week, and engage with the busy domestic programme as well as some meetings on the continent."

Further lifetime best marks were set by Blackheath and Bromley athlete Ishmael Smith-John, who clocked 22.12s over 200m - his second improvement this year already, while Chaka Maillet shaved a tiny fraction off his 22.56s best with a 22.53s run. Suffering from a sporadic achilles tendon complaint, and having missed much of the pre-camp training, this was a significant performance for him.

Elsewhere, Rhys Francis came to within the thickness of his vest of setting a 100m PB, timing 11.15s against his 11.14 best with a legal wind of +1.8m/s, while Brandon Murray underlined his dramatic improvement 2 weeks earlier with another 10.71s 100m dash, albeit helped by a slightly over-the-limit 2.7m/s breeze. His previous 10.71 effort had been just legal with a reading off +2.0.

Rhys Francis en route to one of his fastest ever 100m

Finally, David Bolarinwa was far from satisfied with his wind legal 10.57s 100m performance, but as a former multiple Euro-Juniors medalist and with a wealth of international experience behind him, that mark is unlikely to remain in the record books for very long.

"It was a very good day at the office," concluded John Powell, " and as long as the UK weather doesn't misbehave this summer, its looking like a really good season ahead."

Talking tactics! John Powell discusses race planning in the hugely
impressive air-conditioned indoor football pitch used on this occasion
as the athlete warm-up area at the University of Florida!

LIFETIME BESTS SHATTERED AGAIN!

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 14:58:00 +0000

Trackspeed1-UK sprinters enjoyed a spectacular opening to their competitive 2017 summer season with several lifetime best marks shattered in a meeting in Clermont, Florida.

Brandon Murray(right) is all smiles as he reflects
on his fastest ever 100m at Clermont, Florida

Nearly all the performances at the meet, held at their training base at the National Triathlon Training Centre, were assisted by a strong breeze but, even ignoring that, several times were well within previous personal bests.

Arguably the leading performance of the day was 19-year-old Brandon Murray. Having joined the squad 2 years ago with a lifetime's fastest 100 metres of 11.37, he lowered that in 2016 to 11.16, but at Clermont sent that into oblivion with a 10.71 second sprint aided by one of the only legal tail winds of the day measured at 2.0m/s.

It was of course mixed with an element of luck that the wind gauge stopped on the absolute limit for legal times, but it was a performance that easily outshone any other in the 19-year-old South London Harrier's 4-year track career.

It was a close call for the top squad performer of the day though, with Niclas Baker tearing up the home straight to record a sensational 20.89s 200m run, albeit assisted by a mini-gale recorded at 5.9m/s. It still easily outshone his previous 21.61 best, and was assessed by coach John Powell as potentially faster:

Niclas Baker on his way to a sensational sub-21-second 200m,
annihilating his previous lifetime best for the distance!

"Nic didn't really get hold of the bend, and only switched on the after-burners in the straight. It was a very classy run despite the wind, especially as he had run a 48.81 400 meters 3 hours or so earlier," he explained.

It's real! Confirmation of Nic's super 200m run!

Another Trackspeed1-UK athlete in the form of his life was Cameron Starr, who clocked 10.71s for the 100m aided by a 3.6m/s tail wind - the second fastest time of his life behind his best 10.70, but in the 200m he timed 21.69s to win his heat despite nearly falling 10 strides into the race. His heat winning time destroyed his previous best of 22.08s, and was another run that was easily inside his best with or without the wind.

Rhys Francis, 18, from Cambridge Harriers, began the day with a 11.14s personal best, but was blown to 10.98s at Clermont with a 4.1m/s tail wind. In the 200m his form was even better with a 22.92s run, dispelling his previous best 23.59s with a 4.2m/s tail wind. His 200m was surrounded in controversy though as he finished 2 metres ahead of second place in his race, yet was recorded at the same time as second place. With the backside clock stopping at 22.8 it is likely his mark was in reality yet faster!

Rhys Francis on his way to a lifetime best 200m

Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier Jerome Lule was knocked for six when news reached him of the tragic passing of his grandmother after arriving in the US, making all the more creditable his focus in training, and eventual personal best 200m at Clermont.

Jerome timed 22.96 with a 3.7m/s tail wind, having started the day with a 23.17s best mark. John Powell commented:

"Jerome didn't take the news well, but has knuckled down in training to produce some excellent sessions. Wind or no wind he is clearly in the form of his life, and will doubtless do his Grand Mother proud this summer.

Jerome Lule set a wind-assisted best ever 200m

"Overall I was delighted with everyone's showing at Clermont though. It was a pity the wind confused results a little, but there is always a bit of pressure around an athlete's opening race. It has been another long winter and everyone is always anxious to see where they are at on day one."

Trackspeed1-UK return to the same track this week to continue their training programme, with the next competition scheduled for Friday 28th April in Gainesville for the elite Tim Jones Memorial meet. At least five athletes will compete on a traditionally fast track, with another week of training to follow before the group return to the UK.

Cameron Starr (red shirt) was in the form of his life at Clermont

TRACKSPEED1-UK OFF TO A FLYER STATESIDE

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 18:46:00 +0000

The annual pre-season training camp in Florida, USA, has seen Trackspeed1-UK athletes flying out of the blocks in their first couple of sessions, while back in the UK there has already been a personal best set on the opening day on the season!

David Bolarinwa and Cameron Starr open up their track training
programme in the Florida sunshine

Working out at their usual training base, the National Triathlon Training Center, in Clermont, Central Florida, early indications are that there could be some impressive performances this year.

The majority of the squad are crossing the Atlantic this year to put the finishing touches to their summer season preparations, although some are not due to fly until a little later this month.

One of those still in the UK elected to begin his season early this year, and competed in the Herne Hill Open meeting in Tooting, promptly annihilating his personal best over 200m with a fine 22.25s blast with a zero wind reading. Ishmael Smith-John was all smiles after his run, and was soon receiving many plaudits from across the Atlantic.

"It's ever so early right now," said Trackspeed1-UK Head Coach John Powell, "but if you put down a PB in any of your opening meets, that is always a great morale booster. Our programme will never peak athletes for April, so hopefully there will be a lot more to come, with Ishmael surely cracking the 22-second barrier this year."

Keep an eye on this blog for further updates from the US, where Trackspeed1-UK will be competing too, in two track meetings later this month.

WINTER SLOG TO PAY OFF?

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 12:57:00 +0000

L-R: Brandon Murray, Chaka Maillett and Cameron Starr
training in the bleak mid winter at Crystal Palace.

It's the unseen side of athletics - the grind and toil of track sprinters in the UK training in the freezing cold and dark at a local track - in this case, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Winters can be long and hard, and the athletes in the Trackspeed1-UK training stable know only too well what they have to face during the winter months, but also how vital it is if they are to fulfil their potential in the summer.

Currently the group are focussing on a training window of speed that includes some indoor competition during January, but their next hurdle will be the snow forecast for the next few days.

"It's always a challenge when the white stuff comes down," confesses Head Coach John Powell. "You can't train on the outdoor track, and the indoor facility becomes chaotic with so many users. You just have to make the best of it, and we try to get a few of the quicker guys training early before the clubs and other squads descend upon us toward evening time."

There's hope on the horizon for most of the group, however, with at least 14 of them headed for pre-season training in Florida toward the end of March for a near 6-week stint. Meanwhile, open meetings are currently being run at Crystal Palace on their indoor track, and next Wednesday (18th January) it is highly likely that several of the squad will be in action.

Trackspeed1-UK's 400m hope for 2017, Niclas Baker,
braves the cold at Crystal Palace during a recent workout.

BRANDON OFF TO A FLYER

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 18:25:00 +0000

Brandon Murray is the latest in a long line of Trackspeed1-UK athletes to fire off an explosive start to the new year with some scintillating form on the indoor circuit.

Brandon Murray set a lifetime's fastest 60m at Crystal Palace.

The 19-year-old South London Harrier joined the group 16 months ago with a 60m sprint best of 7.25 seconds, but he lowered that to 7.07s last year, and now already in 2017 he has clocked a speedy 6.90s.

His new lifetime best mark was set during the first indoor open meeting held this season at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Wednesday (4th January). He wasn't the only Trackspeed1-UK athlete in top form either.

Cameron Starr only joined the group at the beginning of the Autumn, but he came out firing on all cylinders setting a personal best 60m also of 6.90s.

Coach John Powell was delighted for his charges, given the circumstances, let alone at this stage of the year:

"The indoor track at Crystal Palace is nothing like most indoor facilities," he explained. "It is very cold there and not great for sprints, and of course this was the first outing for anyone in the group, so any kind of half decent performance so early is very pleasing."

Trackspeed1-UK athletes will be in action throughout January and early February, but will then return to a winter training schedule before the vast majority of them depart for their annual pre-season training camp in Florida, USA, in late March.

ASTONISHING LATE SEASON FORM FOR TS1-UK

noreply@blogger.com (TS1) — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 01:57:00 +0000

It was bound to happen. A blog published here highlighting a late season personal best, and then within 24 hours came four more spectacular sprints from a Trackspeed1-UK squad who have quite literally been on fire this year.

Headlining the performances at Lee Valley Athletics Centre on Wednesday evening was again Niclas Baker, who shattered his previous lifetime best over 200m with a 21.33s run.

Having been discussing training for the coming winter with coach John Powell online only hours earlier, and his need to improve basic speed for running 400m next year, he clearly decided to start early! He had two 21.41s runs wind aided to his name before that, but otherwise had run only 21.99 legally.

Chaka Maillett - sub-11 at long last!

It was an inspirational performance which followed three other super sprints over 100m by Tracksped1-UK training partners. Chaka Maillett had been tantalizingly close to cracking the 11-second barrier at Bromley some weeks earlier when he clocked 11.00s, but at Lee Valley he broke through at last with a fastest ever 10.92s.

Also, running the shorter sprint was Nima Jam, whose form this year has seen a modest club level sprinter convert to a potentially classy act, and he produced the second fastest time of his life with 11.36s

Meanwhile, back in the 200m, former European Junior Champion David Bolarinwa cracked 21 seconds for the first time in 3 years, clocking an impressive 20.97s.

“I nearly fell over when I was messaged these times,” said coach John Powell who was away for this meeting. “We have had some great results this year – no championship medals, but it is a squad rebuilding now, and poised to compete with the best again.

“I’ve been again taking ideas from literally international sources, and the programme I am already putting together for this winter’s training phase is very exciting indeed, and elaborates on what we have been doing this past 11 months. Everyone should be resting up now for most of August, and then getting back into the groove with renewed vigor after this season in September.

“We have a terrific group of athletes in Trackspeed1-UK again now, and there are many who are poised to turn heads in 2017, assuming the vultures stay away!”