In the second consecutive week when we had a distinct lack of female indoor competitors our US based athletes shone through. Across the Atlantic, in Seattle, David BISHOP just failed to break the illusive 4 minute barrier for a Mile. David won the 'c' race that he was seeded in whereas better competition in the 'a' race might have seen him pulled through to 3 mins 5?.??. Never the less David's time of 4:00.74 is very close to the Club Record of 4:00.2 from Nick Rose in 1978. One Club Record that has been broken is the Women's 3,000m by Hollie KNIGHT with a 9:33.93 clocking in Arizona surpassing the 9:35.92 from Maria LYNCH in 2001.

Back in the UK Tom MARLEY was our only competitor in the UK Champs where he stepped up to the 1,500m to clock a creditable 3:54.26 in his heat.

At Birmingham Bristol & West were out in force for the Midland & South West Champs. Pride of place here goes to James PRESTON who smashed the opposition in the (U20) Shot with a new pb of 15.05m to gain Gold Medals in both Championships. We had no other Midland Champions but the following also became South West Champions : Yannick BUDD, Scott BAJERE, Theo CAMPBELL, Ben COGHLAN, Geovaughan BUREY & Steve WEST. PB's were achieved by most of these lads but a special mention must go to Ben who came back from injury to just miss dipping under the 7 sec mark in the 60m. Martin FLOOK looks to be close to his pre illness form in gaining a hard fought MCAA Silver in the 800m and Luke BAILEY also took silver in the Pole Vault. Most improved athletes of the day however were Andrew DEAN-YOUNG who is beginning to get the knack in the 800m where he improved to 1:58.79 and Alex FIELDS who just missed a sub 51 in the 400m with 51.08.

At the UWIC Grand Prix we saw the emergence from his winter coat of our World 100m Masters Champion Derek MORGAN, who tested the water with a 7.46 60m and saw Steve MITCHELL win the rarely run 2,000m in 5:23.03. This is very creditable when you consider our Club Record by Olympian Nick Rose is 5:11.0. A word for Luke BAILEY who has stuggled a little with his 2010
form but following his Midland Silver medal the previous day Luke jumped a very good 3.91m in the Pole Vault.

Results:

USA; David BISHOP, 1 Mile, 4:00.74; 3Km, Hollie KNIGHT, 9:33.93; Steph BARNES, 9:48.47.

UK Champs; Tom MARLEY, 3:54.26.

Midland Champs; 60m, Ben COGHLAN (U23) 7.02 (7.05 ht); Scott BAJERE (U20) 7.06 (7.17 ht); Geovaughan BUREY (U17) 7.41 (7.41 ht); 200m, Geovaughan BUREY (U17) 23.49 (23.83 ht); 400m; Alex FIELDS 51.08 (51.37 ht); 800m Martin FLOOK 1:54.44 (1:58.11 ht); Andrew DEAN-YOUNG 1:58.79; 60H Yannick BUDD (U20) 8.49; PV Luke BAILEY (U20) 3.80; TJ Theo CAMPBELL (U20) 14.02; SP James PRESTON (U20)15.05.

UWIC GP: 60m Derek MORGAN (V40) 7.46; 200m John BRIERLY (U23) 25.32; 2km Steve MITCHELL 5:23.03; Jeremy HOGAN (V50) 6:26.61; Pole Vault Luke BAILEY (U20) 3.91.

Mike Strange
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