Long 'Flower' weekend action

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Well, it's about time we kicked this off in sight of a very interesting long weekend as we're swinging round to the heart of the spring, with May 'Flower' Day blooming around on Sunday.In large, the main action is gathered again across the Atlantic as the Penn Relays, the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford, the Drake Relays and great Steve Scott's Invitational comprise a appetite-whetting menu over the next few days.

In a British perspective, European silver medallist Chris Thompson comes on the stage to pick up the mantle of the leading character as he will be attempting to rewrite Jon Brown's long-standing UK record of 27:18.14 over 10000m, on the very track that he marked his own major breakthrough into the top tiers of distance running.

Forgot to mention that among the scalps claimed by Chris earlier on were Tim Nelson, Matt Tengenkamp, Bouabdellah Tahri (the French 'chaser) in a race won by 21-year-old Kenyan Bitan Karoki in a PB and world-leading mark of 27:13.67, with American Robert Curtis making a big leap to a PB of 27:24.67 for runner-up and Aussie Ben St Lawrence maintaining his startling run of form to destroy yet another PB of his in 27:24.95 - former mark at just 28:05.25.

Full Results from Stanford:

http://www.rtspt.com/events/stanford/pjc11/

Going back to the Steve Scott Inv in Irvine to conclude British results, Carl Myerscough has extended his lead to 3-0 over Brett Morse in their between them contests as a very exciting and tight rivalry is building up at the top of the men's discus this season.

Morse led a quality competition most of the way with a first round 62.97 to extend his lead in the fourth to 63.82m. Yet the 'Blackpool Tower' somehow again, rather quiet until that point, ground out what seemed like a narrow winner of 63.98m in the fifth against the flow of the contest, only to see Westley Stockbarger (USA) snatching a most unlikely last-gasp big PB of 64.38 and victory out of his hands in the final round.

Myerscough had also a solid final effort of 62.88m to round off another convincing display of his in a competition that turned the first ever to see two Brits over 63m, an additional B standard for Daegu for both.

Full Results from the Steve Scott Inv in Irvine:

http://www.flashwest.com/11Meets/11Scott/

Back to Stanford again which turned a breakthrough ground for talented U23 Tom Farrell who surged to a massive PB of 13.26.59, a Daegu B qualifier in the process, for a superb third in the main section of the men's 5000m.

That is a performance that raises him as a hot prospect for the European U23 Champs and could also set the ground to gain a berth on the British team to Daegu, edging ahead of Andy Vernon into second in the UK rankings this season - top outdoor, however, since Mo Farah's leader was indoors!

Scott Overall, by the way, came home toward the deep back of the field in a SB of 13:48.83 but he will be content to register at last something decent so that he can start building from there after a disappointing start to the season.

Luke Cragg, on the other hand, reaped another PB of 13:41.13 for fourth in the second section of the 5000m, moving sixth in the British lists, but David Bishop did not finish (apparently on pace-making duties).

With Farrell and Overall on record now, there are 11 Brits to have run under 14mins so far.

Big PB for former World U20 steeplechase finalist Ruth Senior in 15:48.29 for ninth in the women's 5000m, rewriting her previous figure of 15:57.32 at the same venue last year.

A PB of 4:16.61 for Hannah Brooks in the second section of the women's 1500m to improve considerably on her four-year-old 4:19.56, as was for 'chaser Joe Wade in 3:46.91 to win the fourth section of the men's version.

A disappointing run, however, for Darren St Clair to finish last in the main 800m heat in 1:49.35 (SB) where David Bishop and Drew Graham came second and third in 1:50.38 (PB) and 1:50.44 (SB) respectively.

Celia Taylor also improved her SB into 2:03.34 for sixth in the main heat of the women's 800m well behind Christine Wurth-Thomas's (USA) winning 2:00.72.

The results of the B race of the men's 10000m aren't out yet but Keith Gerrard must have run around 28:27, a big PB, according to my watch. John Beattie and Rory Fraser were involved in this one also and must have finished somewhere in the 28:40s...

Official time for Keith Gerrard was 28:27.03, a big PB down from 28:42.51 last year, in the B race of the men's 10000m at Stanford as Rory Fraser made a decent debut of 28:41.01 over the distance, John Beattie coming some way short of his best in 28:42.63.

Sonya Samuels improved by six secs to a new lifetime mark of 32:57.23 for a first time ever under 33 mins in the women's equivalent.

In the meantime, Meghan Beesley has won the women's 400m hurdles in 58.17 secs in strong windy conditions at the BUCS but was surprisingly more closely than anticipated followed by also U23 Caryl Granville in 58.68, slightly outside her PB, and Emma Peters who set a PB of 59.69 secs.

The fierce wind has also affected the men's javelin largely with Matt Hunt having to do with only 71.06 although U20 Richard Shuttleworth pulled a PB of 68.71m to add to the European age group qualifiers.

James Campbell, competing as a guest, had to settle for 78.80m in his opening attempt this time round.

Let me not forget Niall Flannery, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week, as he won the men's 400m hurdles final in the absence of Jack Green in a substantial PB of 50.47 secs of his own despite the conditions in Bedford.

That's some serious early season hurdling and he rises as yet another contender to steer under 50 secs further into the season in an event that is buzzing with excitement and talent on the domestic front. A European U20 fourth placer a couple of years ago in Novi Sad, he endured a below par summer last season but now seems to be picking up again.

Just back home and let's catch up with some latest developments in windy Bedford now.

Eilish McColgan, the daughter of great former 10000m world champion Eliz, has won the women's 2000m 'chase in a CBP and PB of 6:42.24. I don't know whether she intends to switch her focus on the barriers this season but that doesn't look bad at all from her!

James Shane has put on another solid show on the track to pull away from a very competitive Ryan McLeod to a convincing victory in a SB of 3:44.90 in the men's 1500m. I sense the time has come for him to take his racing to the fringes of international territory this season and times in the 1:46 or 3:37 over 800/1500m should lie within his range.

Talented U23 Alison Leonard earned top honours in the women's respective distance in a SB of 4:24.86 while Scot Kris Robertson built on his semi of 47.82 secs to take the men's 400m final in a SB of 47.28 secs, pretty useful given the prevailing conditions.

Watch out for her this season! I'm talking about Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the reigning World Youth Heptathlon champion, who looks to have returned with menacing intentions after enduring a curtailed last summer due to injuries.

During the National Junior League Mersey Division in Blackburn, she reached out to a huge PB of 37.88m in the javelin, dispensing easily with her previous marker of 33.77m from 2009, and complemented a nice day's job with her first ever put over 11m in the shot, recording 11.11m, to shed her former figure of 10.95m in the previous couple of seasons.

I'm eagerly looking forward to her first heptathlon of the season!

I've somehow missed Anyika Onuora's SB of 11.72 secs at the Steve Scott Inv in Irvine, California, for third in her heat in the 100m, a huge improvement on her season opener of 11.77 secs (0.3) the previous weekend seeing that the wind was at -1.7m/sec! So apparently the signs are there that she could be returning to her best form after a few essentially quiet seasons due to injuries.

It is quite remarkable that after all the woes and sufferings since that last Olympic season all top female sprinters look to be getting their act back together - with sensational U20 Jodie Williams adding her revitalizing tune.

Talking of female sprinters, Montell Douglas had a faster semi run of 11.84 secs at the BUCS.

Another interesting performance could be 18-year-old Dominic Smith's 48.57 over 400m at Eton, particularly given the fiercesome winds blowing across the arena with readings ranging from -4.5 to -5.5m/sec in some sprint events!

Britain's new hurdle star Tiffany Offili feels her win over Lolo Jones at the Drake Relays in Des Moines was monumental. And so should she!

http://www.european-athletics.org/general-news/fast-100m-hurdles-for-britains-tiffany-ofili.html

The Cardinal Jordan Invitational at Stanford, California, through the 'eyes' of IAAF:

http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59895.html

Niall Flannery flies over the hurdles to a big PB of 50.47 secs in Bedford:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238705-2011-British-Universities-Colleges-Championships/video/488231-Mens-400m-Hurdles-Final

Meghan Beesley edges women's 400m hurdles in 58.17 secs in Bedford:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238705-2011-British-Universities-Colleges-Championships/video/488271-Womens-400m-Hurdles-Final

James Shane wins the 1500m from Ryan McLeod:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238705-2011-British-Universities-Colleges-Championships/video/488221-Mens-1500m-Final

I've got to say that James Shane reminds me a little of great Steve Cram, beautiful running style and stride with a nice gradual turn of pace.

The 800m final where, once again, Nick McCormick falls ensnared into a very slow early pace and takes a lot longer to pick it up than he should, eventually overtaken by three runners down the final straight. I hope he forgives me for saying so, but what is going to take him to decide to take up the steeplechase? Or the 5000m as a second option?

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238705-2011-British-Universities-Colleges-Championships/video/488239-Mens-800m-Final

Finally, the women's 2000m 'chase won in a CBP of 6:42.24 by Eilish McColgan, daughter of legendary Liz McColgan:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238705-2011-British-Universities-Colleges-Championships/video/488247-Womens-2000m-Steeple-Chase-Final

I've finally hit it, Jack Green's superb 49.55 secs semifinal at the BUCS!

http://www.vincosport.com/media/bucs-outdoor-athletics-championships-2011/400mh/msemi

Just to add that Zane Duquemin had a very profitable weekend at BUCS, setting two PBs - 17.01m in the Shot and 54.93m in the Discus. Originally from Jersey and currently training at St. Mary's University, Zane is still only 19. Tesni Ward also caught the eye in the javelin, propelling it 50.58m - her first time over 50m. Also 19, Tesni's been making steady progress in the past few years and is now coached by former World Junior Champ David Parker. Still only 31 himself, David is assembling a group of throwers primarily in Yorkshire and neighbouring counties. It'll be really interesting to see how these go in the next year or two . . .

Fine early season form from' new' Brit
Tiffany Offili especially after suffering
that shoulder injury when hitting the deck
at the Europeans a few weeks ago.
Shana Cox will be a big plus next year,
a fine lookng lass !

Going back to the BUCKS a little, there were two more markers under 60 secs in the women's 400mh in 19-year-old Emily Stevens (59.79, PB) and U20 Sophie Wood (59.85, PB) who turns her 19 on Saturday, so a useful depth despite the conditions there.

For that matter, Wood became the second in her age group to have slipped under that barrier this season.

U23 Multi-eventer Daniel Gardiner also leapt to his best ever 7.66m in the long jump but there's no wind-reading attached to, as isn't to Kim Murray's winning 6.21m in the women's equivalent.

At the Glendale Last Gasp in Arizona, apart from Laura Turner's sprint double-up to two SBs and a UK-leading 11.52 secs (0.0) over 100m European Indoor 400m finalist Richard Strachan edged out a competitive MLF in the men's 200m in 21.21 to 21.27 secs (SB) in breathless conditions.

Good to see MLF back to action so soon, come to that, I thought he wouldn't be back racing before June.

Sprinter Margaret Adeyoe also tried her hand over the odd 400m in 56.38 secs.

Also good to see Dwayne Grant back in a 10.54 secs (0.1m/sec) in the 100m at the Central Florida Sliders Classic in Orlando, where the wind to James Ellington's winning 21.21 secs in the 200m was 0.3m/sec.

Hot sprint prospect David Bolarinwa was also in action to win his 100m heat in 10.69 secs, a season opener (0.1m/sec).

James Alaka also improved to a SB of 21 secs sharp (1.8m/sec) in Seattle, running 10.44 secs (0.7m/sec) in the 100m into the bargain.

There was so much going on over the weekend - two encouraging performances over 400m haven't been highlighted. Jarryd Dunn clocked a PB of 47.44 at the Birmingham Rowheath Open meeting, and Markus Hunt set a new lifetime best of 47.92 at BUCS. Dunn finished 3rd in the English Schools Championships last year where he set his previous best - 48.32. Hunt's previous PB also dated back to the English Schools a few years ago where he clocked 48.04 to finish 2nd. I'm sure everyone that clocked a PB at Bedford is really pleased, considering the blustery conditions.

Whereas POT cites a nwi to Laura Turner's UK-leading 11.52 secs at the weekend, there was a wind-reading to the race and it was 0.0m/sec.

Another very interesting performance from Stretford on Tuesday, particularly given the very cold conditions, was 16-year-old Alex Boyce's 48.64 secs over 400m. He's already run 48.44 secs indoors this year and he looks as though he could draw a long way under 48 secs through the summer.

By the way, Daniel Gardiner's 7.66m and Kim Murray's 6.21m in the long jump at the BUCS were both very windy, assisted by 3.4 and 6.0m/sec tailwinds respectively. Gardiner did have a legal 7.41m (0.6m/sec) though.

19-year-old Ned Quiney, going into the U23 group this season, set a PB of 5.15m winning the pole vault in Bedford. Forgot to mention that earlier.