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With the Doha World Championships not starting until the last week of September, we'll be having this space to report on all the athletics news dealing with British athletes during this month.
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Some early news that I'll post on this new topic and it deals with the English U-15/U-17 Championships that have just concluded in Bedford a few minutes ago.
In the final event of the whole championships, the U-17 men's 100m hurdles saw a new championship record of 12.46 run by Joseph Harding (Basildon AC). The old record was set back in 1999 and is also the British record for that age group. Unfortunately for Harding it won't count as either a British U-17 best, nor a substantial PB because it was just over the legal wind limit (+2.1 m/s), however this kid is a real star of hurdling at the moment and at least for the next couple of years is looking like a contender for continental and global titles at the junior level. -
Cindy Ofili 12.85 (0.0) to win in Switzerland - On the plane to Doha. Some good scalps; Young Costa Rican Andrea Vargas & Queen Claye.Last edited by Christy93; 01-09-19, 18:36.Comment
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Belgium
Jessie Knight 56.04 - 4 hundredths outside the qualifying time. Puts her up to =38 in Road to Doha, unless anyone else improves by the cut off, she should get an invite, but whether they accept it is different.
Jazmin Sawyers only managed X - X - 4.81Comment
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Nick Miller 77.49 yesterday, his 76.31 at the British champs was the best he’s produced at that event, so he’s maintaining his form pretty well.
it should be a very competitive event in Doha - 12 athletes beyond 78m this yearComment
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what to make of the fact that the Great North City Games took place yesterday without any mention on our forum... too full of rarely raced events and thus a gimmick too far, an overbearing Auntie Beeb diversity-fest, or even we athletics' fans naturally winding down from the season ... oh what they haven't had the World Champs yet!!Comment
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I've never paid attention to the Great City Games because usually they happen at times in the season in this country where our athletes are only just starting their outdoor seasons, therefore aren't usually in great form and the times are far from impressive, or right at the end of the season when athletes are winding down after a busy summer, with the same outcomes. Also the weather at the events is usually awful and thus hampering performances further. And yeah, running 150m straight races don't do it for me either.
I see what they are trying to do with the event, and on the continent street athletic events are very popular, with the City Games always drawing a big crowd. But I'd use these type of events for athletic disciplines that fit the "town square" setting really well, like the shot put or pole vault. This would give these disciplines some much needed visibility to attract more youngsters to events that they normally don't get to see very often. I'd keep the track events for the stadiums.Last edited by RunUnlimited; 08-09-19, 11:52.Comment
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I quite like the races over 500m or 600m which can pit the 400m, 800m and hurdlers together. Always fun to see athletes that don't usually race each other. Road miles are fun too. The straight sprints do little for me as well but I think the format lends itself well to field events. Shame they haven't done a shot put as far as I can tell over the years.Comment
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I don't think it is until you have picked up a shot that you realise quite how powerful the big throwers are, and I'm not convinced there is much spectacle in it even in a town square. Though I am biased as a long term "meh" about throws in general, and shot put in particular. I admire them, but I don't enjoy watching them.Comment
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Some good results by British athletes taking part in “the match”
Wightman 2nd in the 1500
Good wins for Neita and Alex Bell
A solid run by Jodie W in the 400 - 51.83 beating Swiety-E, Okolo, Miller
Nick Miller 3rd with 77.89 only 44cm behind NowickiComment
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Yes, looks completely out of sorts. Webb, on the other hand, can take a bit of encouragement from his run. Poor position at the bell but finished close to 2nd and 3rd, had he been on the shoulder of the leader at the bell then who knows.Originally posted by LuckySpikesComment
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Obvs you will all, especially Larkim, be fascinated by a 58.57 mJT.....
The interesting part is that the lobber in question is Dan Pembroke in his first comp for 6 years.
He's one of the talents that I keep claiming we've had that but fall by the wayside. I think injuries were a factor, but 75.89 as a 19 y.o. suggests that he should have been capable of well over 80m.
He's 28 now, so that may be more a one off rather than the start of a serious comeback, but either way its good to see him back on the runway.Comment
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I don't mind javelin, but perhaps that's because of our halcyon days with Sanderson, Whitbread, Backley, Hill etc, and of course the very lovely Sayers. Always interesting to hear of talents disappearing and coming back though, whatever the discipline. Athletics is such an easy sport to drop. There's a local runner near me who as an U13-U17 was regularly a mid-to-back of the pack runner showing little real talent but constant commitment. He stuck with it and as a young adult suddenly developed the ability to drop under 16 minutes at a 5k and 84 minutes half marathon. Picked up one niggle, started work and we've never seen him again. A talent (albeit not a world class one) wasted to the sport. My aspiration for my kids who take part is that it becomes a life-long habit for them, at whatever level their inate talent allows them to compete at.
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