Indoor Season 2009

[lsabre]

There have been some very encouraging early performances by British athletes as the new indoor season engages the frame, led mainly by the male pole vaulters who look bent on gaining a sound footing on the international stage.

UK U23 record holder Steven Lewis got off to easily his best ever season opener of 5.60 for second in Moscow on January 11, showing set to move up a notch on last year and challenge Nick Buckfield's senior record of 5.81m later in the season.

20-year-old Luke Cutts bolsters up season's prospects as he rose to his best ever season starter by far, clearing 5.40m in Manchester a week earlier. After a couple of wishy-washy seasons, the promising vaulter looks as though back on track to establish himself on the senior stage.

Kate Dennison hasn't shown as sharp, at least for the moment, with only 3.95m in Cardiff where she was bettered by Louise Butterworth's 4.06m.

Andy Turner looks to have blown off his last term problems and determined to prove his lottery funding omission wrong with a very lively start to the term, setting a solid 7.68 secs over 60m hurdles at Uxbridge last weekend coupled with a 6.86 secs over the flat distance. The latter was a mere 0.02 secs short of his lifetime best!

Further in the men's hurdles, Commonwealth 110mh silver medallist Chris Baillie has displayed a return to form with a promising 7.81 secs in Cardiff, pipping William Sharman to the win by a mere hundredth of a second! Callum Priestley, moving into the U23 scene this season, got off to a fabulous start in edging inside 8 secs for the first time ever at Lee Valley on 4 January to add to the good news.

Rion Pierre and James Dasaolu, born in 1987, have both got off to flying starts with identical PBs of 6.72 secs over 60m, closely followed by Harry Aikines-Ayreety at 6.75, to announce that they are going to be factors on the sprinting scene this season. World Indoor long jump silver medallist Chris Tomlinson also showed encouraging signs with 6.84 secs.

European U23 200m champion Hayley Jones has marked an impressive return to action with an equal PB of 7.52 secs over 60m at Loughborough to show that she means business as usual again, 400mh UK champion Perri Shakes-Drayton startling with massive bests of 7.54 (mixed race) and 7.58 secs. Also notable is Kim Wall's 7.56 secs, not far off her PB (7.52)!

Rejuvenated Dale Garland and Mark Brown have set the early pace over 400m with 47.90 and 47.95 secs respectively at the Lee Valley as well, where 17-year-old Savannah Echell Thompson leads the women with a solid early season 56.77 secs.

Steve Davies beat Richard Hill in comprehensive manner over 1500m in Cardiff, setting 3.47.17, whilst there was the welcome news of Andie Osagie's return to action after a whole year on the sidelines. The Harlow AC athlete finished second to Ed Aston over 800m at the Lee Valley last weekend in 1.52.64...

[Epping Man]

It is such a shame that the competition providers did not communicate effectively to avoid date clashes.eg. So many on the same weekend. The
Essex and Kent Indoor County champs clashes with the England Athletic champs in Birm, and with the Scottish champs, The Brunel Open and the European Trials in Sheffield.
As a result all events will lose out as athletes have to pre-entry
and chose well inadvance. many of the irish atheltes are going to compete in scotland rather than Birmingham, Many of the essex and kent athletes will pick the easier travel to Lee Valley,Many of the top u20's will
go to sheffield and so devalue the EA Birmingham weekend.

[Javelin Sam]

how does someoneprove selectors wrong regarding being dropped from lottery funding when that athlete produces a near best performance after being removed from funding.. all that says to me is that they don't need the funding to perform at their best level..

[lsabre]

The male pole vaulters carried on from where they left off the previous weekend to grab further headlines as Steve Lewis and Luke Cutts soared to new lifetime heights, steering the event firmly into a new era as well as territory on the international scene.

Following up impressively on his best ever season-opener of 5.60m in Moscow, 22-year-old Steve Lewis turned in a sensational performance as he rose above a classy 5.75m at the first time of asking in Manchester on Saturday, moving nearer Nick Buckfield's 5.81m UK milestone set back in 2002.

It represented a substantial improvement of 4cm on his previous PB and the second highest vault ever by a Briton in all environments, outdoors or indoors, already ensuring of the high qualifying standard for both the European Indoor Championships in Turin and the World Championships in Berlin. On this showing, it seems rather a matter of time before Lewis establishes his reign at the top of British vaulting history.

Complementing a fabulous weekend, 20-year-old Luke Cutts engaged in the flurry of PBs as he cleared a massive 5.62m in Sheffield the following day, shattering his year-old lifetime mark by a solid 12 cm! That saw him move fourth in the UK all-time lists and second U23 overall, turning his sights on Lewis's 5.71m age best set last season.

The men's sharp upturn of standards rubbed off on the girls drawing a string of some very useful early season clearances in Manchester. UK No1 Kate Dennison shook off a rather disappointing opener to the winter with a SB of 4.30m to re-assert herself at the top of the domestic scene, followed by surprise UK outdoor champion Emma Lyons (21) who posted a big PB of 4.18m for second.

Louise Butterworth occupied third in an indoor PB of 4.12m, the same as an inspired Henrietta Paxton who added 7cm to her own lifetime mark. Wrapping up a most prolific Saturday, 17-year-old Sally Scott soared over a massive PB of 4.06m, her first ever mark over 4m...

60m

Nick Smith,26, blasted off to a fast 6.66 secs in Glasgow on Saturday to claim the top of the domestic scene from the outset, having set an equally impressive 6.67 secs in the heats. His PB at 6.63 secs from last year, the Scot looks eager to make an impression on the top guys.

Craig Pickering, the European Indoor silver medallist, set out into the season with a solid 6.68 secs in the quarters at the Southern Indoor Senior Champs at the Lee Valley before pulling out of the final, while 200m speciallist Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun served up another turn-up with a huge PB of 6.69 secs.

Andy Matthews, 24, ran 6.75 secs for fourth, former 100m European U20 champion Leon Baptiste posted a PB of 6.81 secs and 17-year-old Kieran Showler-Davis also PB'ed with 6.82 secs.

On the women's side, 15-year-old sensation Jodie Williams dazzled down the track to claim a scintilating victory in a huge PB of 7.38 secs, while Perri Shakes-Drayton showed on the way to a breakthrough on the international scene in the shape of a massive PB of 7.44 secs! The UK 400mh champion backed that up with a 7.47 in the semis.

Shaunna Thompson, 16, showed also in fabulous early form with a big PB of 7.46 secs in Sheffield on Sunday, snatching a marginal win over a resurgent Hayley Jones by a mere hundredth of a second! The European 200m U20 champion is easing nicely back into action, knocking a solid 0.05 secs off her PB over the distance to 7.47.

Elaine O'Neill, 19, turned in a huge PB of 7.48 secs to stretch the record-falling spree as Jessica Ennis mounted a solid return to action following her premature exit due to a stress fracture early last summer with a 7.56 secs in Sheffield on Sunday. Finally, former UK No1 Joice Maduaka ran a season opener of 7.45 secs in the States.

200m

Leon Baptiste sped to his fastest ever indoor mark of 21.19 secs at the Lee Valley on Saturday, easily seeing off the challenge of Andy Turner who finished well behind in 21.49 for runner-up. Having moved on the front foot with PBs over both the 100 and 200m last summer, Baptiste looks as though he is gearing up nicely to engage the top flight in the country this season.

The one-lappers were busy over the furlong during the weekend and latest US recruit Michael Bingham, a regular member of Britain's 4x400m that occupied fourth in Beijing last August, warmed up with a 21.51 secs over the distance at Blacksburg (USA).

In Sheffield the following day Phil Taylor - remember him, a member of Britain's European Indoor 4x400 gold medal outfit in Birmingham - returned to action in good form to run a PB of 21.60, beating Richard Strachan into second (21.72). The latter completed a nice weekend's job as he enjoyed a useful PB of 6.91 secs over 60m at the Lee Valley the previous day.

Shaunna Thompson followed the lead of Jodie Williams as she scorched round the Sheffield track to a sound 24.18 secs season opener on Sunday, coupling fabulously with her earlier PB over the indoor dash. Although posting an indoor PB, Hayley Jones could not match the pace of the precocious 16-year-old Sale athlete to come home some way adrift in 24.30 secs.

Evergreen Donna Fraser, into her 37 now, returned the very same time as Jones the previous day in London, while Joice Maduaka came a mere hundredth short of that mark out at Lexington, USA...

400m

Harry Doran, 18, set a new PB of 48.32 to announce his arrival in the thick of matters on the junior scene, while Joe Thomas' PB of 48.46 the week earlier shouldn't go unnoticed. Last summer's revelation over 800m should fancy his chances of a breakthrough into Britain's team to Berlin, equipped with a fiercesome kick as well.

Leigh Lennon, 17, moved to the top of the women's equivalent with a PB of 56.44 secs in Sheffield.

800-1500m

Kris Gauson continued his cautious comeback to action with a useful second over 800m in 1:53.40 at Notre Dame, USA. The Edinburgh AC athlete impressed with a classy 3:43.10 as an 18-year-old over 1500m in 2006 but serious injuries confined him to the sidelines for almost two years... Note that he ran a PB of 2:28.58 over 1000m in December.

Nikki Hamblin, based in New Zealand, ran 2:05.04 in Hamilton the previous week.

60m hurdles

Beijing finalist Sarah Claxton looked very sharp on her season debut as she flowed over the hurdles to her fastest ever opener of 8.09 secs at the Lee Valley on Saturday, indicating that something special could be in the shaping this term. Amazingly enough, she was challenged all the way by a very lively Gemma Bennett who equalled her PB of 8.14 secs in the process, so looks poised for big improvements herself!

Bennett, in fact, had even more reason to leave the Lee Valley elated at her form as she added a new PB of 7.52 over the flat distance to wrap up a superb outing, Claxton setting 7.60 on her own account.

On the men's side, Richard Alleyne opened his season account with a convincing win over Callum Priestley in London, recording a useful 7.90 secs (7.89 in the semis) to the latter's narrow PB of 7.95 secs. Nick Gayle missed marginally out on second place with 7.96...

High Jump

Olympic finalist Martyn Bernard got his indoor campaign off in familiar style with a decent 2.22m for second in Cologne midweek, followed by Rob Mitchell and U23 prospect Rob Grabarz at 2.18m.

Martin Lloyd cleared 2.15 at the Lee Valley at the weekend, where high-cum-triple jumper Jane Nisbet set 1.80m in Glasgow to go atop the women's early rankings. Isobel Pooley, 16, jumped a very promising 1.78m as well in London.

Long Jump

Nick Newman set a considerable PB of 7.60m at Northridge, USA, on 10 January while up-and-coming multi-talented Katarina Thompson leapt to a superb season-opener of 6.05m in Sheffield before adding two PBs of 9.05 and 7.76 secs over 60mh and 60m flat respectively in quick succession!

Triple Jump

Scotland's Noni Mordi, 21, reached out to a big indoor PB of 13.45m in Glasgow on Sunday, signalling her intentions to challenge the 14m mark this season. There were further good news as UK outdoor champion Nadia Williams landed at a SB of 13.20 the previous day at the Lee Valley, following up with a PB of 7.53 secs over 60m.

[lsabre]

Having completed last weekend's round-up, I have to say I'm sorry about doing things a little in parts of late but I'm during a rough patch building up for exams over the next two months, working as well.

[Sotomayor]

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headli ... s_Hogg.php

disgraceful

[usedtoit33]

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2483293.0.Disgusting_double_standards_says_Hogg.php

disgraceful

Um ... bunch of drama queens. Nick Smith, good as he is, is not as good as Pickering over 60m. Period. Scott retained his funding and Turner didn't, so presumably he could afford to be a bit more generous to a fellow athlete who now has to earn his way?

[nuvola]

alan scott has a faster pb than turner over 60m Hurdles, is a world finalist over the distance and ranked 6th over 60mH season 2008.

Usedtoit....try actually reading the article- Hogg is merely suggesting that if Turner is getting a run infront of Scott as hes the fastest in Britain so far this year (Scott hasnt ran yet) then why isn't Smith getting a run in the 60m as he is the fastest in Britain this year over that distance. In no way is Hogg insinuating that Smith is a better athlete than Pickering or whoever else.

More to the point...

"Scott retained his funding and Turner didn't, so presumably he could afford to be a bit more generous to a fellow athlete who now has to earn his way?"

Scott is on the bottom level of funding (cant mind what its called), hence probaly why he is maintained on it whilst turner has been dropped from more advenced funding and not placed on the lower level, like Scott, as he is deemed too old (though I agree with the general concensis that he should be on funding of some kind). Period. The funding level that Scott is on will give him nice little perks, dont get me wrong, but it won't provide much (if any) in the way of cold hard cash. He is believe it or not a person with needs such as rent money and food...so your comment above is completely ignorant and stupid. Remember everyone has to make a living and unfortunately that leaves little room for sentiment (esp in the current financial climate)...such is life.

And Sotomayor....Uka used allan scott for the press conference to promote the match, said in the conference that he would be running and then didnt select him for the UK team (fair enough, Turner aint bad)...but then didnt even select him for the commonwealth select, going with an athlete whos pb is vastly inferior...now thats a 'disgrace'. I would say the offer of a guest slot after that was a bit of a slap in the face!!!!

I personally think UKA have buggered this one up- they essentially have two spots to provide UK athletes for this match (including commy team)...so why didnt pick both of them (either way around team wise)? They sould be helping every UK athlete in anyway they can... very stupid decision....

[Oleg]

I heard Alan Scott chose not to run as he is not 100% at the moment.

[Rex68]

Two Welsh indoor records were broken today - Rob Mitchell jumped 2.24m in the high jump and Emma Lyons pole vaulted 4.27m to go to become the third best British pole vaulter of all time.

[Geoff]

Also in Cardiff, Steve Davies ran 3.41.24 which is inside the European Indoor qualifying standard. Will Sharman ran 7.78 for 60H and Chris Baillie 7.79.

[lsabre]

Very impressed with Steve Davies's time over 1500 (3.41.24, an indoor PB) at such an early stage of the season, looking poised to power inside 3.40 soon. I couldn't really tell what shape he was in when leaving Richard Hill reeling in his wake a fortnight ago (5 secs adrift) but now I get a first sense of what he's capable of this season! Incidentally, Hill ran 1.49.10 over 800m yesterday, providing a measure of Davies' form currently!

Rob Mitchell and Emma Lyons also marked huge improvements on their previous week displays by 6 and 9 cm respectively! Really looking forward to their next outings!

[lsabre]

Marilyn Okoro, incidentally, ran a solid 53.37 secs over 400m outdoors during her warm-weather training stint in South Africa on Friday, really looking hot in sight of the oncoming outdoor season!

[lsabre]

The flurry of fabulous early season performances the previous weekend was followed by a relative lull, necessary to peak up towards the formal curtain-raiser of the season in Glasgow, with the middle distance guys and girls providing the main stories led by a superb Steve Davies.

After an unconvincing summer that saw him crash out of the heats in Birmingham last July, the 24-year-old Belgrave Harrier has not only marked an impressive return to form but also showed as though he has moved up a level, powering to a superb solo win of 3.41.24 in Cardiff on Saturday.

That represented a substantial improvement of nearly a second on his previous indoor PB of 3.42.18, set in 2006, sweeping him to the top of the European lists this winter by a comprehensive way. Furthermore, Davies pulled the requisite of the standard for the European Indoor Champs early out of the way and can concentrate fully now on his build-up into the season.

Seeing that his run was a virtual time trial, runner-up Jorge Thomas trailing way behind over 7 secs adrift, one can only speculate what the Welshman could be capable of once in a quality race with set pace and people around drawing him all along. But on that Saturday showing, he looks very much bound towards something in the 3.38-39 region soon.

Over in London, European U20 800m silver medallist James Brewer initiated his indoor term with an easy win in 3.50.66 as he attempts to re-assert himself following a summer marred with sorts of problems. It may have been three seconds slower than his opener last year, but a winning start is always a solid first step and a welcome return nevertheless...

There was further good news coming from over the Atlantic as a rejuvenated Neil Speaight served up his best display for some time at the New Balance Games in New York, earning a close second in a solid 4.00.31 over the mile. Hopefully, he can mount a serious challenge this season that he is due for quite some time - remember the man has run 3.38 indoors!

Tim Bayley of Iona finished a useful fifth in 4.01.83 while James Thie trailed a place behind in 4.02.94 - still looking some way off the route to emulate his 2004 exploits.

A revamped David Proctor, 23, followed suit with Speaight to take second over the same distance in Boston, posting a slightly faster 4.00.26, to stride back into the frame.

Having suffered an overwhelming defeat at the hands of Steve Davies over 1500m a fortnight before, Richard Hill returned to more familiar territory to set the fastest time by a Briton over 800m this term with 1.49.10 in the heats in Cardiff, seeking the way back to that 1.45 form three years ago.

His nearest challenge at the moment on the domestic front seems to come from a resurgent Andy Osagie who looks to have shrugged off his injury problems and be moving back into his stride, setting an indoor PB of 1.49.70 at Lee Valley. Last summer's top British junior Richard Ward finished some way behind in second with also an indoor PB of 1.50.54...

Complementing an interesting weekend in the event, Chris Gowell ran 1.49.84 to win his inaugural race this term in Fayettville, Arizona, a late major surprise indoors last year when clocking 1.47.83 in Birmingham.

Miler Lee Emanuel, who caught a few eyes with a useful 3.40.77 over 1500m outdoors last spring, levelled his PB of 1.50.91 - this time indoors - right from the outset to also secure top honours at Albuquerque.

On the women front, Marilyn Okoro sharpened up nicely for her eagerly anticipated first 800m outing this weekend in Glasgow as she set a solid 53.37 secs at Potchefstroom, South Africa, looking really hot in sight of the oncoming outdoor season. Incidentally, it was only 0.36 secs shy of her fastest lapper last season!

At the same venue, Tara Bird opened her 2009 account in a 2.05.88 clocking for runner-up over 800m.

400m

Nigel Levine, a top British prospect in sight of the future, breezed to a comfortable win and the lead on the domestic scene this term with a 47.70 secs U23 debut at the Lee Valley, his first ever trip inside 48 secs indoors.

Mark Brown took second in 47.96 secs, his second sub 48 run this winter, followed by a rather disappointing Dale Garland in third with 48.29. Nick Leavy, one of the finds of last year's indoor term, won the main heat on the schedule in a SB of 48.35 secs.

Former European U23 bronze medallist over 400m hurdles Sian Scott won the women's equivalent in a season-starter of 56.50 secs.

60m hurdles

William Sharman restored parity against Commonwealth silver medallist Chris Baillie in their between them contests this winter in the very same cruel manner in the backcloth of the Cardiff indoor arena, snatching victory by the narrowest of margins. Both athletes recorded SBs with 7.78 and 7.79 secs respectively.

At the Lee Valley, European junior bronze medallist over 110m Gianni Frankis scored his fastest ever season opener of 7.97 secs to claim top spot, closely pursued by Daniel Davis who set 8 secs dead and Edirin Okoro in a PB of 8.01 secs in a very tight affair! Nick Gayle was the victor of the first heat in 8.03 secs.

In women, European Indoor finallist Sarah McGreavy got off to her fastest ever season debut of 8.25 secs to an easy win, showing that she is hauling back to her best.

Sprints

Veteran Olympian Donna Fraser provided the most noteworthy mark of the weekend in a SB of 24.26 secs over 200m in London (Lee Valley) as Vicky Barr, a member of Britain's 4x400m squad in Beijing last summer, got off to an excellent start into her season with an indoor PB of 24.48 secs.

Jumps

Emma Lyons, the UK outdoor pole vault champion, resumed where she left off the previous weekend to shatter her week-old PB with a 4.27m clearance in Cardiff, adding a massive 9cm. Her figure amounted to a new Welsh record at that, bursting up five places into third on the UK all-time lists. On a momentum right now, she is turning her sights on the next milestone, 4.30m, which could go as early as her next outing...

Another Welsh athlete to show in very good form was Rob Mitchell who cleared a UK-leading 2.24m in the high jump at the same venue, sneaking above Samson Oni's SB of 2.23m on the same day at Hustopece (Chezh Republic) as things start stirring in a most anticipated event this season.

Nathan Morgan opened up his indoor season with a cautious 7.45m on his return to action in the long jump at the Lee Valley as Richardo Childs was slightly off at 7.41m in Cardiff, the latter enjoying a big PB of 6.78 secs over the 60m dash. Jonathan Moore jumped 7.37m the previous day before being involved in that weird incident that saw him cut his warm-weather training stint in South Africa short...

Veteran Julian Golley, a former Commonwealth champion, defied age to land sharply at 16m, topping the triple jump current list, where the most mentionworthy performance of the weekend was Ben Williams' 15.27m a day before celebrating his 17 birthday. The youngster looks destined for much in the future...

Yasmine Regis made three the female triple jumpers over 13m this term, registering 13.05m in the States, while Abigail Irozuru sneaked a cm on her indoor long jump PB with 6.03m in Birmingham and Charis O'Connor equalled her PB in the high jump with 1.80m at the Lee Valley.

[Rex68]

(More later on...)

Or how about you just paste the link to the Power of 10 'on target' page? Because you're basically just writing about the results listed there (along with a few from AD maybe). Reading a list of results would be a lot less tiresome than trawling through all this stating-the-obvious verbiage.

[lsabre]

Actually, Rex68, since you seem to come about every time to just talk much of a muchness, (a) more later on means that I didn't have time enough to complete late last night it due to work and exam commitments right now, (b) I use far more sources that your narrow mind can imagine! Certain information that I provide may not be written on any website if you want to know...

If you don't like it, then do me the favour to read through other threads!

[Rex68]

By 'AD' I meant Athletics Data, not Athletics Daily!

[Oleg]

(More later on...)

Or how about you just paste the link to the Power of 10 'on target' page? Because you're basically just writing about the results listed there (along with a few from AD maybe). Reading a list of results would be a lot less tiresome than trawling through all this stating-the-obvious verbiage.

I like these updates from lsabre - they're a good read and are much more interesting than looking through pages of results. As he says, if you would rather do that - just do it, why complain that someone is making an effort.

Keep up the good work lsabre!

[simonlangley]

lsabre keep up the good work, I like your updates too.

[lsabre]

Thankyou guys!

[Javelin Sam]

great to see your reports mate but where are the other round ups of the events from last year... did the job become too large?

[fangio]

No he just knows no one is interested in field events

[lsabre]

Hi Sam, I will be doing the women's 10000m tonight, picking up reviews on the past season from Monday on since I am taking exams over the weekend.

[paul]

lsabre keep up the good work, I like your updates too.

Isabre I like them too. Keep up the good work.

(But, speaking as a Dad, do not allow this task to distract you from achieving your
potential in your exams. )

[lsabre]

Thankyou Paul! Fortunately, they're not the ones that carry the greater weight for me, those are over in March, but decided to take them the very last moment and see what happens off limited preparation - pretty much like a sharpener in an exam environment. They've turned out pretty demanding nevertheless!

[Sportsman29]

Emma Ania has ran 7.37 to win her heat in Leipzig and then went on to run 7.32 to win the final.

A decent season opener, and only 2/100ths outside the qualifying standard.

I really hope she targets the Euro Indoors, and as its in Italy, where she now lives, hopefully it means she will go for it.

Ryan Scott disappointed in running 6.82, hopefully that is not a sign on his form !

Gemma Bennet also ran 8.18 to come 4th, she is showing consistency and looks like she is set to have a good season, will need to run a bit quicker to get to the Euro Indoors, but good to see her running internationally and giving it a go.

[nevetssllim]

Chris Tomlinson had a disappointing performance in Moscow - all of his jumps were valid but his best was barely over 7.50m.

[Kermit]

This made it's way on to YouTube about 13 hours ago. Very impressive, not sure about the music though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtO7bYPhx_c

[Sportsman29]

Donna Fraser won both the 200m and 400m at the Birmingham Games in pretty decent times.

The 400m in 53.32 and 200m as 23.38

The 200m time is especially good, as indoors always produces slower times than outdoors, thats good to be worth about 23.0 - 23.1 outdoors.

How brilliant would it be if she could lower that 400m time at the trials and go to Turin in the individual event, or i suppose at the very least will be going in the relay i am sure.

So glad she did not retire at the end of last year, surely she could have a role at next years Commonwealth Games as well if she chooses to continue after this year

[Kermit]

I am still not sure if the following is the case. But I believe that due to CO being defending champion she has an automatic place in the starting list of the event therefore 3 other Brits can compete.