Mike Strange reports from a busy weekend of indoor track and field action.
This past weekend saw the indoor season come to life with events at all the UK venues.
For B&W the predominant local event was the Non-Thomas Open at NIAC, Cardiff. To adhere with COVID rules, field events preceded the track to avoid too many bodies in the Arena at once. Here, Emma Bakare won the Women’s Triple Jump, in borrowed spikes, with an encouraging leap of 11.30m and Martin Davies find Harry Petyt cleared 4.01m to take 3rd in the Pole Vault.
When track events began this meet proved to be a very fruitful for the sprinters. Tristan Jamieson took his squad over, and most notable of them was Natalie Isherwood who improved on her SB with a powerful 7.83 secs clocking in a close final following an equally well executed 7.88 secs in her heat. Young Edward Wilson made the men’s final with a very good 7.09 secs after a strong qualifying heat in 7.14 secs. Josh Maggs just missed out from making that final by one hundredth of a second with a desperately close 7.20 secs in 3rd place. Josh looks to improve this coming week again at Cardiff. Coach Tristan Jamieson clocked 7.47 secs to win his heat quite clearly, but his time was insufficient for the final. HCA athlete Joe Carter made the final just missing his SB with a 7.00 which he went on to equal in the final. V45 Masters athlete Henrietta Anstey looked really on the ball in her 60m heat clocking 9.65 secs.
In the 60m Hurdles Holly Mae McKenna running in the Bristol University colours was cautious as she came out of the blocks but improved with each hurdle to register a strong PB of 8.78 secs and win by half a second - a good solid win to start the season.
Over the longer distances B&W only had a few athletes, but Tom Foxon was well positioned in his 2:02.13 800m and it was good to see old friend Callum Jones clocking 3:49.57 for 1500m. David Corkey also in the 1500m clocked 4:01.55 in his race for a big PB.
In the USA, Tia Jackson clocked excellent times of 7.91 for 60m and 26.52 for 200m in Manhattan. Ben Jefferies continued his series of outstanding 400m runs with a 48.50 clocking in Yankton, New York setting him up for an exciting 2022 season.
In Glasgow, recent HCA signing Charlie Husbands showed a real peak to his exceptional High Jumping form as he cleared 1.99m following a 1.97m clearance the previous week at Loughborough.
Manchester saw another outstanding performance from B&W International Jenna Blundell who decimated our 60m hurdles Club Record at Sport City with a thrilling 8.21 60m hurdles time following an earlier 8.25 time. 2022 must bode well for Heptathlete Jenna who really has come out firing. Mark Cottam also competed at this Boxx United Tour Meet to register a really promising 48.52 secs 400m run and HCA Athlete and girlfriend Amy Gandhi showed her good form by clocking 8.50 secs for 60m and 27.69 secs for 200m.
In Loughborough, Pole Vaulter Caroline Walder opened with a fine 3.00m clearance and the Team Management will be thinking that it is so good to see Cally back in action ready for our National League campaign.
Another big event this weekend was the London Games at Lee Valley where Lily Bailey cleared a magnificent 1.66m PB in the High Jump. Being a multi-eventer Lily is really juggling with a whole range of events as she consolidates as an under 20 and this break-through in the High Jump must be a great encouragement for all her efforts. Another multi-event specialist and HCA Member Jordanna Morrish threw solid 9.68m with the 4k Shot to register a season’s best and leading Club male sprinter Jody Smith improved to an exceptional 6.84 secs for 60m.
Mike Strange