Easter weekend action

Let's start a little round and gather the performances of several British athletes lining up across a curtailed weekend, mainly across the Altantic, with Easter assuming a prominent position tomorrow.

Andy Turner has followed up on a promising opener of 13.37 last weekend through a second straight win of 13.39 secs over the 110m hurdles a little earlier on at the Tommie 'Tiny' Lister Classic in California, displaying some sound early season consistency in the process. For good measure, that's easily his best form ever around this early stage.

I haven't got the wind-reading yet but I understand it must have been legal, nor the times of Gianni Frankis and Alex Al-Ameen that were also involved in that race.

Olympic 400m champion Christing Ohuruogu is down for some speedwork over 200m and Nathan Woodward, coming from a big PB of 46.82 over the flat 400m last weekend, is stepping up to the 800m to gauge and boost his endurance platform. Further, former Olympic 200m finalist Abi Oyepitan is doubling up over 100 and 200m for a second weekend in a row.

James Alaka, still an U23, got a considerable PB of 48.06 secs for second in the main 400m heat at the Oregon Relays to show that he's on track to move up a level on a breakthrough into the international scene last season. His previous marker held at 48.28 secs from 2009 and he's currently leading the UK rankings in the 100m with 10.34 secs.

At the same meet, Heptathlon world-record holder Ashton Eaton swept to an impressive, though windy (2.5m/sec), 13.57 secs in the 110m hurdles but had to do with 4.90m in the pole vault, compared to his recent PB of 5.26m indoors.

There was some useful depth in the 800m as Tyler Mulder shaped plenty of daylight on the opposition to win by nearly a second in 1:46.79 where Britain's Celia Brown came fourth in a season opener of 2:03.54 some way behind eventual winner Geena Gall in 2:02.04.

European U23 bronze medallist Sarah Holt hurled a SB of 62.61m, with all last three of her throws over 60m, to notch a useful confidence-boost early international win over Brittany Hinchcliffe (USA, 61.14).

Yesterday, incidentally, Kenyan Sally Kipyego (KEN) ran the fastest time in the world over 1500m in 4:06.23.

Results
http://www.goducks.com/fls/500/track/1011/relays/index.htm?SPSID=4364&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500

About Turner, didn't he win Euopean gold in somthing like 13:28 and his PB is 13:27 or something? Running about a tenth quicker than those times right at the start of the season is a very good sign indeed. I thought he really raised his game last year and hopefully he'll continue in the same vein this year. I'm looking at some decent PBs at least (under 13.2 seems very possible), and a good showing at the Worlds.

Out of interest Isabre, do you know what the wind was for Turner's first two runs?

Yasmine Regis jumped a wind-assisted 6.17m (3.5) for fourth in the long jump at the Michael Johnson/Dr Pepper Classic at Baylor University in Texas.

Last week it was 0.6m/sec but I don't know yet what it was this time round, waiting the full results.

Well, as Andy himself told me, the wind in his race yesterday was -0.3m/secs, meaning that it was effectively an even better performance than last weekend's UK-leading 13.37 secs.

Incidentally, European U23 silver medallist Gianni Frankis was second in a SB of 13.90 secs, with also U23 Alex Al-Ameen third in 14.26 secs.

Also, Laura Turner set SBs of 11.54 and 24.01 secs over 100 and 200m on a double outing yesterday, looks pleased with her competitive workout. Her time in the short dash goes top of the UK lists this season.

There have been good news from the discus quarters as well as Carl Myerscough hurled a big SB and UK-leading distance of 64.37m for third in a very good quality competition at the UCSD Triton Invitational, California.

Actually, he came quite close behind winner Dutchman Erik Cadee at 64.97m (SB) and runner-up Croatian Martin Maric, who has already thrown 65.38m this season. For the former, the venue has turned a happy ground as he set his PB of 66.20m there last year.

On top of that, that mark was easily a B qualifying standard for Daegu and it will be interesting to see whether there could be two male discus throwers going to the World championships, hopefully on A standards both by the look of their early form.

Let me also add that this was the furthest throw by a Brit since Emeka Udechuku's 64.93 back in July 2004 at Loughborough.

Brett Morse, the UK U23 record holder, was also well involved in the tussle to land the implement at a solid 62.27m for fifth, showing substantial consistence.

To underline the weight of the displays of the two Brits, both bettered the likes of Jarred Rome and Ian Waltz in the same competition.

Canadian Dylan Armstrong turned the star of the meet as he unleashed a big national record and world-leading 21.72m in the shot to move in place of Reese Hoffa at the top. In the women's version, German Nadine Kleinert posted a useful 19.15m.

Going back over British performances, Dwain Chambers, Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm and Rikki Fifton teamed up to a comfortable 39.42 secs winning display in gusty conditions in the men's 4x100m for Britain.

In the individual dash, Chambers tasted his first win of the season in 10.57 secs into a fierce headwind of -3.4m/sec followed by Malcolm in second in 10.81 and Fifton in third in 10.89 secs.

There were encouraging showings by both Rob Tobin and Rhys Williams over the odd 200m as the former came second in 21.57 (0.6m/sec) in the main heat and the latter fourth fastest overall in a PB of 21.67 secs into a slight headwind of -0.5m/sec. Come to that, they looked very good running the last couple of legs of Britain's 4x400m last weekend at the MtSAC at Walnut.

Jermaine Olasan, moving into the U23 group this season, leapt to a SB of 7.38 (0.6m/sec) to take the long jump.

Results
http://www.ucsdtritons.com/downloads2/415242.html?ATCLID=205142263&SPSID=93286&SPID=11064&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=5800

Turning back to the Tommie 'Tiny' Lester Classic, Abi Oyepitan is showing glimpses of the form that set the ground to a top eight appearance in Athens 2004 as she powered to a slightly windy 22.85 secs (2.4m/sec) to clinch the women's 200m, well ahead of Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu's 23.49 secs for third.

For good measure, she came also runner-up in the dash in 11.71 secs (0.3m/sec) behind Carol Rodriguez (11.61), where it was nice to see Anyika Onuora back in third in a season opener of 11.77 secs.

Gemma Bennett added a third British win in 13.53 secs (1.2m/sec) in the 100m hurdles to make three top placings on the trot to the start of her season while Andy Robertson put a fourth in the bag on account of a big PB of 21.06 secs in the men's 200m (0.1m/sec).

He was also third in the 100m in a slightly windy 10.35 secs (2.4m/sec) so things look back on track for him following a solid 6.68 secs over 60m indoors earlier in the season.

Kim Wall was fourth in the women's 400m in 54.19 secs a long way behind in-form Keshia Baker who dominated in a sound early season 51.61 secs.

Results
http://www.csulaathletics.com/documents/2011/4/23/2011_Tiny_Lister_Results.htm?id=702

Highly-rated U23 Tom Farrell has built on a promising start to the season as he ground out a second win in as many outings outdoors in the 1500m over indoor revelation Chris O'Hare, setting a PB of 3:42.33 in the process.

Having disposed of his previous best of 3:42.92 set in Fayetteville last year, he should be gradually turning his sights on the 3:40 barrier and that hasn't got to take long as things look now.

I've got to admit, though, that I kept under the impression that he was focussing on the 5000m instead this season but things have shown otherwise.

Incidentally, the runner-up time of 3:42.54 was also a huge official PB for 20-year-old O'Hare who is emerging as another serious contender to break through the same landmark. And I'm saying 'official' because his 1500m split time in setting 3:56.48 over the mile indoors must have definitely been considerably faster.

Tom Marshall, 21, ran a PB of 3:48.75 well back in 11th place.

At the same meet, Aries Merritt swept to a wind-assisted 13.35 secs (2.8m/sec) over the 110m hurdles while Shalonda Solomon marginally missed out on a legal 22.73 secs by a mere 0.1m/sec higher than acceptable tailwind (2.1).

Results
http://www.flashresults.com/2011_Meets/outdoor/04-22-McDonnellInvite/Results2-1.htm

Jeremy Warriner and Sanya Richards-Ross opened their specialty accounts to winning ways but both were made to work hard agaist a strong crosswind blowing over the arena at the Michael Johnson Classic at Waco, Texas.

The 2004 Olympic champion narrowly held off Mychal Dungey in a season opener of 45.61 to 45.64 secs as the wind substantially shifted the shape of the race. It is indicative that Berlin's bronze medallist Renny Quow finished fourth in 45.69 in a blanket finish affair.

Richards-Ross, on her part, was a more convincing winner over rising home rival Jessica Beard in 52 secs sharp to 52.37 but she will be happy to getting her racing back on track.

Gerald Phiri, now representing Zambia, was disqualified in the men's 100m to open the way for rising U20 star Prezel Hardy to claim the win in a very notable PB of 10.13 secs (1.7m/sec).

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/23/3022126/wariner-richards-ross-fight-wind.html

Results
http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/c-track/stats/2010-2011/2011mjclassicresults.html

Good weekend's work for Natalie Pearson who sped to second in the UK lists in the women's 100m as she won in 11.61 secs (0.9m/sec), a PB, at the Big South Champs and went on to double the effect in a SB of 23.78 secs (1.4m/sec) over the longer dash.

Kenyan Martin Matathi edged out compatriot John Thuo in a very competitive encounter over 10000m at the Hyogo Relays in Japan that lined up the three fastest times over the distance in the world this season.

The winner, a sub 27 mins man in his career, clocked 27:23.85 against the runner-up's 27:23.99 with Paul Tanui rounding out the top three in 27:32.71.

Results
http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php/display-article?arId=57318

I missed mentioning earlier that Laura Turner set the previously cited times of 11.54 (0.9m/sec) and eventually rounded down to 24 secs sharp (1.8m/sec) in the 100 and 200m respectively at the Sun Devil Open at Tempe, Arizona, which were actually 'April bests' as she dubbed them herself.

Certain other members of Linford Christie's squad were also out to gauge their early shape at the same meet and were rewarded with good returns.

Britain's regular 4x400m lead-off man last season Conrad Williams bagged a PB of 21.29 secs in the 200m to fractionally beat indoor revelation Richard Strachan into third as both were credited with the same time, which becomes even more interesting given the -3.6m/sec headwind recorded during the race!

Williams had earlier got another PB of 10.65 secs again into a headwind (-0.8m/sec) in the 100m so looks poised to move up a level on the strength of those early warm-up outings.

Luke Lennon-Ford, another 400m charge of Linford, ran his fastest ever 200m of 21.27 secs in the second heat but that was, unfortunately, wind-assisted (3.1m/sec). However, he got his own PB in 10.75 secs in the 100m.

Finally, back into action after a fortnight was 1:45 800m man Darren StClair who set 48.01 secs over 400m, having apparently suffered a fall in his opening race over his specialty.

Talented James Shane has made a solid start to the outdoor term in winning the 800m in 1:49.79 in the BMC races at Parliament Hill on Saturday, the fastest outside an indoor arena by a Brit so far.

He ran his two fastest races by a long way overdistance over 3000m on the boards this winter, ranging in the 8:05 province both times, so apparently comes into the frame on a far sounder endurance platform.

Tim Bailey looks like getting himself again after a virtual no-season last summer to come second in 4:01.51 over the mile behind Michael Coe, a convincing winner in 4:00.07, at the Brutus Hamilton Inv at Berkeley in California. That was also comfortably better than the 4:15.02 he ran over the same distance in Texas a little over two weeks ago.

Tom Phillips, incidentally on his 22nd birthday, applied well to take also second in the men's 400m hurdles in his second best time ever of 50.94 secs, in considerably windy conditions, as he drew home well behind Nigerian Amaechi Morton, who set a fast 49.69 secs.

The latter caught the eye with an excellent 46.23 secs over the flat distance indoors and looks likely to make his presence felt on the international scene.

21-year-old Sam Evans was a third runner-up for the Brits on display in an outdoor SB of 1:50.15 behind clear victor Jason Holt, 1:49.67, in a meet where Ray Stewart posted a notable 13.55 (0.7m/sec) in the 110m hurdles and a revamped Katerina Stefanidi cleared 4.37m in the women's pole vault.

link to video 100m chambers etc from a few posts ago....

http://spikeduppsychedup.com/2011/04/24/dwain-chambers-debuts-in-100-meters-at-ucsd-triton-invite/

Thanks Iamian, I think Dwain slowed down a little towards the end while his pick up phase didn't look quite so slick at the beginning at least. But it would have been rather worrying if everything clicked at this point of the season I guess.

Here's the men's 4x100m where Britain won through a quartet of Fifton, Devonish, Malcolm and Chambers:
http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238682-UCSD-Triton-Invitational/video/486660-M-4x100-H01

Matthew Graham fell just outside 9mins in winning the men's 3000m 'chase in 9:00.20 at the Pacesetter meet in Indiana to show that he's drawing back to his best, having run a promising 8:51.48 as an U20 last season.

Very good news from Britain's new star in the sprint hurdles Tiffany Offili who set a new PB of 23.92 secs for fourth over 200m (1.4m/sec) at the Twilight of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Her previous best held at 24.11 from 2009.

The European Indoor silver medallist over 60m over the sticks rounded off a good weekend's work by winning her specialty in a SB and UK-leader of 13.22 secs in the face of a strong headwind of -1.9m/sec, so things look really promising at the beginning of her journey towards Doha.

There were several sound early season performances but, unfortunately, all well wind-assisted at the LSU Alumni meet in Baton Rouge where double world indoor 60m hurdles champion Lolo Jones made her outdoor debut in style to a fast 12.74 secs in the outdoor discipline over 100m on a strong 3.3m/sec tailwind.

Jasmin Stowers also ducked under 13 secs to 12.93 secs for second place.

Trinidad's Richard Thompson, a Berlin finalist, joined the early salvo of 9.9s into the season as he burst to a swift 9.91 secs over the dash but again aided by a strong 5.1m/sec wind on his back.

American rising star Rakieem Salaam was well beaten into second in 10.04 and Gabriel Mvumvure (ZIM) came third in 10.10 secs.

Semoy Hackett, another Trinitadian with a recent windy 10.98 secs in Austin, snatched a narrow victory over Murielle Ahoure (USA) by the narrowest of margins in 11.08 to the latter's 11.09 secs, the wind at 2.5m/sec.

Kimberly Duncan, still 19, displayed once again her promising sprinting credentials through a 22.18 secs (3.2m/sec) to claim a comprehensive win over Ahoure, a second runner-up spot on the day in 22.31 secs, while Jamaica's Patricia Hall drew a SB of 51.97 secs in the women's 400m despite the conditions.

http://www.lsusports.net/fls/5200/trackstats/11alumni/index.htm

At the ACC Championships in Durham, North Carolina, David Forrester had to do with fifth on his second outing over 5000m just outside 14 mins in 14:00.61, Irishman Ciaran O'Lionaird emerging a comprehensive winner in a PB of 13:52.11.

Hannah Brooks, looking to be moving up distance, was third in the women's version in 16:25.19 some way behind top marker Jessica Parry, 16:14.74.

The performance of the meet belongs to American Maurice Mitchell who stormed to a global-leading mark and a PB of 20.19 secs (1.1m/sec) in the men's 200m.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Ti'erra Brown grabbed the win in a SB of 12.94 (1.9m/sec) ahead of a close second 19-year-old Brianna Rollins in 12.99 secs (PB).

Results
http://www.flashresults.com/2011_Meets/outdoor/04-21-ACCChamps/Day3.htm

Let me amend something I mentioned yesterday, Tiffany Offili's PB over 200m stands at 23.90 secs from 2008 as I've just seen on the EAA lists. Therefore, her 23.92 secs on Saturday is a SB but she should be revising her top figure in a matter of time given her form.

At the Meeting d'ouverture in Aix Les Bains Christophe Lemaitre opened with 10.19 in the 100m

Stretching the weekend action into yesterday, European 800m silver medallist Mike Rimmer has hit the ground running in awesome manner into the season as he smashed his PB over 1500m into 3:38.91 at Strefford, setting up nicely for his first major tasks in Doha and Hengelo next month.

If anything to go by, his respective start at the same ground last year was his previous best of 3:41.1 that laid the ground to a European top mark of 1:43.89 and silver in Barcelona, suggesting that the Liverpoolian looks poised to move his game further into new territories. I dare say that a low 1:43 looks like a sound prospect now.

Rimmer made the most of the presence of Kenyans Bethwell Birgen and Richard Kiplagat who finished in the top two places in 3:38.19 and 3:38.71 respectively, drawn into new lands in the event.

David Proctor came fourth in a season opening of 3:43.78 followed on by sensational middle distance prospect Niall Brooks in also an opener of 3:46.44, the man who went second all-time in the UK U20 lists with 3:38.62 last summer.

A few other performances I've picked up on the round from the domestic scene this past weekend starting with an interesting Half-Marathon debut from U20 Louise Small, who set 77:58 at the KPMG Guernsey Easter Runs at St Peter Port.

I'm really intrigued to see which event she is going to focus on on the track this season displaying a trademark for Mick Woods' athletes wide range from 800m through to 5000m, while running a half marathon is hardly any indication given that it is a familiar feature in the group's early racing schedule.

But maybe, just maybe, her 16:11.03 over 5000m last year tips slightly the balance in that direction.

Also on the road, 19-year-old Dewi Griffiths - I have heard that this is a very proud family name and members might get upset to see the final -s omitted!! - won the Teifi 10 miles in a best of 50:48. That athlete was actually fourth at the European U20 champs in the 10000m two years ago.

Moving onto the track and Chelmsford where teenage prodigy Jessica Judd went on yet another lone run way out in front to a fast 4:18.04, slighly outside her PB of 4:17.44 from last year. At this rate, it's anyone's guess how far she could reach over any distance she contests this season!

At the Open Meeting at Loughborough, Mark Dry notched a SB of 68.46m to start clawing back to the 70m line in the men's hammer while U20 Myra Perkins took the women's equivalent in a PB of 58.14m. Lauren Bouchard ran 56.17 secs in the flat 400m and Julian Adeniran got his season off to a 14.13 secs (0.3m/sec) in the 110m hurdles.

billiethezwerg wrote:At the Meeting d'ouverture in Aix Les Bains Christophe Lemaitre opened with 10.19 in the 100m

Funnily enough, that wasn't enough to grant him top spot even in his country as Martial Mbandjock sped to a faster 10.13 secs behind Ivory Williams at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, albeit on a perfect assisting wind of precisely 2.0m/sec compared to a 0.8 wind reading in the European champion's race.

Williams, by the way, mounted fourth in world rankings due to this mark.

A name that I've somehow failed to mention for a few days now is 17-year-old Abigayle Fitzpatrick who got off to an excellent big PB of 59.83 secs over 400m hurdles, down from 61.15 secs last year, at the Loughborough Open. I think a name well worth tracking down the season and feel there's a lot more to come!

Top international performance on the track this past weekend, in my view, goes to Mike Rodgers (USA) who roared to a classy 9.96 secs on a 1.1m/sec tailwind in Oxford - that is a real statement at this early phase of the season.

Yes, Steve Mullings (JAM) the previous weekend ran 9.90 secs and then came this total bolt (not Usain!!) from the blue in the shape of the Ngonidzashe Makusha (ZIM), a long jumper-turning sprinter as it seems (?), to record 9.97 secs at the NCC in Durham, but both were riding right on the upper end of their range on a perfect wind of 2.0m/sec - the assisting wind behind Rodgers was well withing the allowable margins by comparison.

I've watched him a lot this season, both indoors and outdoors, and he has worked and improved a lot on several aspects of his performance. But above all, he's so consistent and ever reliable a performer, very confident, and you know that once he's there around you at the start of the 100m you've got a race in your hands.

I'm really expecting him to starting mixing it with the very top guys, not necessarily beating Bolt or Gay but could pose them a few worries occasionally, and I feel that he looks well capable of going under 9.8 secs this summer.

Makusha, on the other hand, is still pretty much of an unknown quantity at the moment but he's probably going to ponder switching to the sprints overall after such a start to the season, if he hasn't already focussed so building up during the winter. I'd like to wait and see until his next race a little but that was definitely an impressive start.

Behind him, Maurice Mitchell grabbed his first of two PBs on a very successful Saturday for him in 10.03 secs and looks as though on the way to dip inside both big landmarks of global sprinting; 10 secs for 100m and 20 secs over 200m. Watch him out too...

Ngonidzashe Makusha is Zimbabwean.

hahaha... Great minds think alike it seems, Trickstat! I went back and amended it at the same time you posted! Thanks

Two more very good performances I'd like to mention before we move on to the oncoming weekend are Bershawn Jackson's opener of 48.98 secs over 400m hurdles in windy conditions and Grenada's precocious Kirani James's 45.12 secs over the flat distance.

The 'Batman' is my own slight favourite to win the world title and given also the windy conditions in Kansas last weekend that was a strong indication that he comes in determined and well-prepared to recapture the top.

I'm not sure whether Kirani can challenge a fully fit Jeremy Warriner this summer but he has got definitely the makings of a medallist in Daegu, which would be a sound sprinboard to seek more a year on in London. On that evidence, he should be eyeing times in the mid 44 secs or thereabouts at the peak of the season.