Loughborough International, Loughborough, May 22

I've just stumbled over the announcement of the English team to compete at Loughborough on Sunday, bearing a very interesting make-up, so thought of setting up a respective thread rather earlier than intended. Perri Shakes-Drayton, Jack Green, Hattie Dean, Stacey Smith, Abi Oyepitan and Laura Turner are a few to figure among the team while a men's 4x400m relay team is yet to be named:

http://www.englandathletics.org/news.asp?itemid=6488&itemTitle=England+Team+announced+for+Loughborough+International&section=42&sectionTitle=England+Athletics+News

European 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene will be running in the 4x400m relay as a sharpener before he makes his formal season debut at the Diamond League meeting in Rome next week, skippering the Wales team into the meeting.

Christian Malcolm and Joe Thomas will be the main individual competitors in the Welsh line-up.

http://www.welshathletics.org/news--media/news/track--field/2011/05-may/wales-team-for-loughborough-announced.aspx

European 400m hurdles finalist Eilidh Child and javelin thrower James Campbell will be leading the Scottish squad to contest the meeting at Loughborough, while Eilish McColgan and Claire Gibson in the distances will be other interesting names to watch:

http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17&itemType=news&itemId=5505

Jessica Ennis and Mark Lewis Francis will be also adding further weight to the meeting with their class. I haven't tracked yet the line-ups of the other two sides on show, the BUCS Select Team and the GBU20s...

http://www.uka.org.uk/media/news/may-2011/18-05-11-loughborough-international/

Here is the link to the announcement of the British Under 20 team.

Looking forward to this event. Will be interesting to see the results

You can find the final timetable for the Loughborough International bottom right on this page:

http://www.loughboroughathletics.com/fixtures.html

I've just seen Kermit say on AW forum that Craig Pickering has got injured and looks likely to miss eight weeks of training, meaning that he's pulled out of the very anticipated men's 100m race at Loughborough.

Of course, missing a race will be the least of his worries right now. But missing as many as eight weeks at this stage highly compromises his entire season. That equates to returning to training around early to mid July, a few weeks before the UK World Trials namely, when the season will be in full flight and the others will be slipping through to top gear. Unfortunately, his chances of making even the relay for Daegu given the anticipated competition look very thin after this latest setback...

Commonwealth champion Leon Baptiste has scratched from the 200m at Loughborough on Sunday due to a minor setback but as I understand he should be fully fit for his first major assignment over the distance of the season at the Diamond League meeting in Rome next week.

lsabre, is the event going to be televised at any point? Even a highlights show after most people have gone to bed perhaps?

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any screening of the meeting at the moment, Camerajuan.

What I am aware of, though, is that the provisional starting-lists are out at last, so here they are (right bottom of page):
http://www.loughboroughathletics.com/fixtures.html

Interestingly, sprint sensation Jodie Williams will get her season underway over 300m and I'm really intrigued to see what sort of time she's going to be up to. This girl has got an amazing range and loads of speed endurance to force her way into the top places in the UK ever over the distance from the outset - and I don't need to draw your attention to her, I'm dead certain she's already got that!

Meghan Beesley has switched to the same event late from the 400m flat for some speedwork where I can see Mark Lewis-Francis in the men's 200m line-ups. Talking of sprints, I wonder how much bearing on truth have got some rumours I've seen about Craig Pickering getting injured. I can still see him up there in the 100m lists. I so want to see this guy getting his sprinting back on track!

camerajuan wrote:lsabre, is the event going to be televised at any point? Even a highlights show after most people have gone to bed perhaps?

Try Vincosport

http://www.vincosport.com/media/loughborough-international-2011
http://www.vincosport.com/live

Ok, not as good as TV, but better than nothing. They do a great job.

Well, to be honest everything looks to be in sort of a mess as concerns Loughborough International today. First, there is this appalling wind that has been ripping most events and keeps picking up - I can't stand it! All races from 400/400mh have been heavily affected which is vastly reflected in the times, while most sprint times cannot count since most wind-readings are over the allowable limit of 2.0m/sec.

Further, I can't really stand this information sparingness with so many resorting to dropping a few lines on Twitter - this is a meeting after all. Don't people really like writing these days? I wish I was at Loughborough to offer some more thorough input on the events there but unfortunately I can't...

At least, an event that looks like flourishing out at Loughborough today is the men's hammer where Andy Frost and Mark Dry have thrown considerable PBs of 72.79 and 72.49m respectively, first time over 72m for both. For good measure, these are the top two marks in the British rankings as yet this term.

Very promising early runs from Harry Aikines-Ayreety and a surprisingly strong early this season James Ellington who fought it out to the end in windy 10.09 and 10.12 secs (3.3m/sec) respectively in the main heat of the men's 100m. Despite the strong favourite wind behind their backs, these times recommend some solid early form and I'm feeling very confident that both will be turning identical times in legal conditions soon.

Sensational Jodie Williams won her debut 300m in 38.02 secs earlier on in highly windy conditions to go straight fifth, if I'm not mistaken, in the UK U20 lists over the distance ever. I'm really intrigued to see whether she could erase long-standing Lindsay McDonald's UK best of 36.46 at another attempt in a kinder weather background.

Danny Talbot, the surprise UK indoor champion, looks to have stormed to a massive PB and UK-leading time of 20.65 secs from the off as the wind seems to have languished around 1.4m/sec during the race - though I need some confirmation of that. He looks to be a massive prospect by all accounts.

Jodie Williams's time has been rounded down to 38 secs dead, a PB.

Good start for Jessica Ennis in the meet with a 1.86m in the high jump, which I must confess sounds awesome in these horrendous windy conditions. Tony Minichiello, her coach, says that she's behind schedule with her jumps at the moment but she doesn't quite look so to me on the face of that.

Forgot to mention that Danny Talbot has got a definite new PB of 10.21 secs in the 100m under his belt already, with the wind at 1.8m/sec there. But there'll be no PB over the furlong since the wind was 6.1m/sec during that one!

Last weekend's sensation Lawrence Okoye may have turned a let-down as he crashed out of the discus with six, yes six (!), fouls but Abdul Buhari and Chris Scott made up for him on account of the event by way of PBs of 61.76 and 61.20m respectively, making a good deal of the favourable wind.

Buhari improved after quite some time from his 61.30m well back in 2008 while Scott landed over 60m for the first time in his career, his previous mark at 59.90 from last season.

On top of that, that double stroke of 61m markers sees the current season emerge as the first ever in history where five Brits have thrown over 61m - history is being made in the event!

Eden Francis has thrown a PB of 16.68m in the shot, showing that she's coming on nicely towards the main season, as Rachel Wallader got second with a last-ditch big PB of 16.12m and precocious 16-year-old Sophie McKinna was third with 15.59m, looking well en route to 16m into the season.

Jade Nimmo got the women's long jump in a PB of 6.31m (0.9m/sec), with Lorraine Ugen second at a windy 6.24m.

Back to the men's hammer, Alex Smith was third at a SB of 71.51m and Mike Floyd clinched a PB of 71.15m for fourth, his previous lying at 70.45m from last year.

James Shane also looked strong again to win the men's 1500m convincingly in 3:43.58. On the evidence of a couple of runs I've seen of his so far, it's just a matter of time and a proper race to steer under 3:40 now! Lovely runner!

Forgot to mention earlier on that Danny Talbot's new PB of 10.21 secs over 100m is also inside the B standard for Daegu.

By the way, there's nothing worrying about Kelly Sotherton who pulled up due to a stomach cramp and not injury through her 400m today. She turned up a little later in the A Invitational race where she set a slightly windy 23.81 secs (2.4m/sec), a decent first track race since - can you believe it has been so long? - 2008. Next stop is Ostrava over 400m and hopefully things will start falling in place for her.

Jessica Ennis must have walked out of the Loughborough arena pleased with her double workout and plenty of positives in her hands as apart from a promising 1.86m in the high jump in those horrific windy conditions she also landed her spear at 44.49m, her best opener over the latter ever.

Next weekend she is competing at a world championships heptathlon dress-rehearsal at Gotzis and I feel that she's going there in considerably better position than Tony Minichiello, her coach, expected her to after her runs in the streets of Manchester a week ago.

The only question mark that remains hangs over her long jump following her troubles with a persisting ankle injury in late winter but beyond that everything looks to be falling in just in time for her.

But let's get the full results from Loughborough earlier on first:

http://www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2011/47952_6002_22052011195121_LIA.pdf

Going over to the men's 100m, Craig Pickering was quick to dispense with any whispers over his fitness through his best run for quite some time in 10.15 secs, which is very encouraging at this early stage despite the strong assisting wind (3.3m/sec). Hopefully, things are starting to gel under his new coach and he will return in the thick of affairs in British sprinting this season.

Marlon Devonish was surprisingly left back trailing in fourth in 10.19 secs, considering his 10.26 split through to 150m in Manchester last weekend, to provide a measure of the quality of the runs of the three before him (HAA, Ellington, Pickering).

Highly rated U20 David Bolarinwa was also involved in that race to come fifth in a very promising 10.32 secs.

Behind Danny Talbot, Andrew Robertson built on his early streak of good form in shape of a new PB of 10.31 secs (1.4m/sec) to eventually put that 10.37 secs from his U20 days back in 2009 to bed for good. Actually, he missed a European U20 bronze by thousands of a second in that previous PB run back then.

Ricky Fifton is looking back in one piece to get a SB of 10.39 secs in third, Luke Fagan took up from where he left off indoors to set a PB of 10.44 secs in fourth - a European U20 bronze medallist over 200m in 2007 - tied with European U23 silver medallist Leevan Yearwood, who got a SB on his part.

17-year-old Adam Gemili was the surprise package of the day with that slightly windy 10.29 secs (2.4m/sec) to win that B Invitation men's race. Someone to keep an eye on on the age group scene this summer.

My tip as potential top performer across the arena of Loughborough goes to Steve Lewis who opened up with a sound 5.60m in the pole vault given the appalling weather conditions, as high as he managed through the entire last season.

The Commonwealth silver medallist had to endure a long patchy spell since a very successful 2009, a top eight finalist in Berlin, mainly due to injuries and switching coaches with everything that entails in such a highly technical event. Even during the indoor season he was forced to fall behind as he suffered a broken finger when his pole snapped in two at the AVIVA Grand Prix in Birmingham.

But now things look to finally bed in and to come out to lay down a B qualifier for Daegu from the off in these conditions, where I'm certain most vaulters around the world would have struggled, indicates that he's finally turning the corner and is poised to pick up where he left off in Berlin in 2009.

Apart from a straight outdoor UK-leading mark, his 5.60m also amounts to a second B standard for the Worlds meaning that he's the only one among the three, with Max Eaves and Luke Cutts in the shaker, to fulfil the UKA B qualifier criteria. Although I'm expecting him to make the journey to Korea on an A standard on the strength of this performance.

19-year-old Scot Gregor McLean was the turn-up of the event as he got a big PB of 5.20m to upset both Eaves and Cutts on countback for runner-up. Interesting to see how he's going to follow that up.

I've got to admit that I was slightly surprised that Charlene Thomas beat Stacey Smith, a girl I'm hearing a lot about lately and I feel can make a big impact this season, so convincingly in the women's 1500m setting 4:20.61 and 4:21.18 respectively.

Yet, Charlene is a 4:05 performer and not a slouch herself so though conditions may have affected the shape of the race and suited more her more combative style that's definitely a good sign she may be returning to the top of her game. Good to see her back and racing well!

And what about this astonishing 16-year-old girl Jessica Judd who finished a battling third, not far off behind, in 4:22.70 to take the scalps of Claire Gibson, fresh from a PB of 4:15.11, and Marilyn Okoro - her potential looks frightening!

The women's 1500m promise to be really hot this season with Lisa Dobriskey fully fit and raring to go from the beginning of the season, Hannah England, Thomas, Smith and Laura Weightman to name a few - and what a shame that Steph Twell has got to miss that season!

Apart from Jessica Ennis, Commowealth heptathlon champion Louise Hazel enjoyed a good early double workout of a 13.38 secs clocking over 100m hurdles (2.4m/sec) and 40.86m in the javelin.

A few days after getting off to a staggering season opener of 3:42.83 over 1500m, highly-rated U20 Jonathan Hay stamped his authority on the field to fashion a comprehensive win in 14:03.23 over the 5000m in those conditions at Loughborough yesterday, which was narrowly outside his PB of 14:02.29 late last season.

This guy, coached by Mick Woods, has got huge potential and I'm really wondering where his best prospects lie and where he should focus more on this summer, the 1500 or the 5000m?

Starting off to 3:42, on the one hand, indicates that he's definitely gearing up to running sub 3:40 in the 1500m and possibly turn the third ever U20 Brit to have accomplished that, Niall Brooks the second ever only last summer.

In fact, he could well be eyeing to replace the latter as second fastest ever on 3:38.62 now and once there Graham Williamson's long-standing mark of 3:36.6 from 1979 could start looking inviting.

On the other hand, he could have gone under 14mins with a less rollercoaster run over 5000m as early as last season and when he settles more into the distance, possessing such superb mile speed, he's going to take big inroads into that barrier. On current particulars, I reckon that he could well force his way under 13:40 while I wouldn't rule out Steve Binns's U20 mark of 13:27.04, holding from 1979 as well, to come under attack too.

These two landmarks in the history of U20 British distance running have followed identical fortunes through the years and have become sort of intimidating icons, yet their time may have come to yield and both to the same guy at that.

As for yesterday's race, James Walsh was second in 14:06.80 and 'chaser Luke Gunn third just outside his PB in 14:15.49 on his first opener this term.

Unfortunately, the much anticipated lap hurdles races were heavily blighted by the gusty winds and winners Jack Green and Eilidh Child, both coached by Malcolm Arnold, had to do with much slower times than they were looking for, winning in 51.89 and a season opener of 58.95 secs respectively. But as Jack says, championship races could turn that way and you've still got to win them regardless of conditions.

In the men's race, also U23 Niall Flannery looked very competitive again to get second in 52.11 secs where Rick Yates could make only fourth in 53.39 secs.

I don't know how many have noticed U20 Andy Pozzi's excellent, even though windy (4.0m/sec), 13.79 secs over the senior 110m hurdles which suggests some serious business going into the main season, beating highly-rated Jack Meredith (14.05) in the process.

I haven't seen that sort of time over the senior sticks by an U20 for quite a long while, windy or legal, and one has got to also bear in mind that juniors don't race that often at this scale, therefore there is plenty of room to improve with the entire season open wide ahead.

What has also struck me since the indoor season is the manner that Pozzi looks to have gained the upper hand over a seemingly invincible until that point Meredith as a very tight and intriguing rivalry is building up between the two in the U20 ranks.

Pozzi backed that up with a legal 13.69 secs over the junior hurdles (1.0m/sec) to wrap up a very successful opening weekend for him.

Over the seniors, Julian Adeniran won the race that involved the two U20s in 13.72w while Ben Reynolds missed narrowly a big PB of 13.81 in the second run as the wind was at 2.2m/sec, Matt Hudson following in 13.95 secs.

It will be fascinating to see how both Pozzi and Meredith do in still conditions - they say that a following wind isn't that helpful for the high hurdles as it pushes athletes onto the hurdle too fast and disrupts their rhythm. Without checking, I'm assuming Loughborough was the first or second outdoor comp of their season so there's plenty of time to dip under 14 yet.

Watch new sensation Johnny Hay in the men's 5000m at Loughborough on Sunday (Athleticos Live):

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238787-2011-Loughborough-International-Athletics/video/491910-5000m-Match-Men

Jack Green surges past a very competitive Niall Flannery in the dying stages of the 400m hurdles that turned into an U23 affair:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238787-2011-Loughborough-International-Athletics/video/491756-400m-Hurdles-Match-Men

Laura Turner builds on a solid consistent early season with a close win of a windy 11.35 secs in the women's match 100m:

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238787-2011-Loughborough-International-Athletics/video/491744-100m-Match-Women

The men's match 100m where HAA pips James Ellington to the win by two hundredths of a second, 10.10 to 10.12 secs (3.3m/sec):

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/238787-2011-Loughborough-International-Athletics/video/491745-100m-Men-Match