2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships

Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Saturday 12th June 2010 – Day 4

GREAT Britain’s Charlotte Browning has completed the unique double of winning the national collegiate indoor mile and 1500m outdoor titles with victory at the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Oregon.

The 22-year-old Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete running in the orange and black of the Florida Gators team clocked a time of 4:15.84 to secure victory ahead of Gabriele Anderson (Minnesota) 4:16.25 and third placed Jordan Hasey (Oregon) 4:16.43.

A delighted Browning commented afterwards: “I didn’t think it was going to happen, this is one of the hardest races of the season and my career, it was a real nerve-racking race right to the end but I’m really pleased.”

Browning follows in the footsteps of fellow ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athlete Hannah England who won double gold over the mile and 1500m representing Florida State University in 2008.

In the men’s 1500m final Lee Emanuel (University of New Mexico), the NCAA indoor Mile champion, finished 6th having led for most of the race until the last 200 metres when three members of the Oregon team passed him to take one, two and three. Emanuel ran a time of 3:48.61 as Andrew Wheating won gold in 3:47.94.

Gerald Phiri (Texas A&M) finished in eighth place in the final of the men's 200m clocking a time of 20.91secs.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Live video streaming is available on the following link: www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/inc/div1/c-otrack-div1-livestreams.html

Live results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAA/

2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships

Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Friday 11th June 2010 – Day 3

GERALD Phiri (Texas A&M) placed fourth in a wind-aided 10.20secs in the final of the men’s 100m narrowly missing out on a podium place on Day 3 of competition at the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Oregon held in front of a record sell-out crowd of 11,972 at Hayward Field.

Jeff Demps (Florida), America's fastest gridiron football player, won the title clocking a time of 9.96secs adding the outdoor gold to his NCAA 60m indoor victory in March.

This was Demp’s first sub-10-second clocking but will not count as an official lifetime best because it was aided by a 2.5mph wind. He finished well ahead of runner-up Rondell Sorrillo (10.09) of Kentucky and bronze medallist Luther Ambrose (Louisiana-Monroe) 10.12.

Chris Gowell (Baylor) earned the third All-America honour of his collegiate career with a seventh place finish in the men’s 800m final. In a stellar field, Gowell chased the field through the first lap, and made a late sprint into seventh place clocking a time of 1:47.67. Andrew Wheating completed victory for the host team of Oregon with a mark of 1:45.69.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Live video streaming is available on the following link: www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/inc/div1/c-otrack-div1-livestreams.html

Live results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAA/

2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships

Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Thursday 10th June 2010 – Day 2

GREAT Britain’s NCAA indoor mile champions Lee Emanuel and Charlotte Browning progressed to the finals of the metric 1500m version as the duo look to complete the unique double at the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in Oregon.

On the second day of competition at Hayward Field, despite the adverse weather conditions with heavy rain once again affecting the athletics programme, NCAA indoor mile champion Lee Emanuel (University of New Mexico) clocked a time of 3:44.99 in the men's 1500m semi-finals to qualify automatically for Saturday’s final finishing second in his heat.

David Forrester (Florida State) finishing seventh behind Emanuel in a time of 3:47.30 missing out on the final.

National US collegiate indoor mile gold medallist Charlotte Browning (Florida), the 2010 Southeastern Conference 1500m outdoor champion, advanced to the finals of the women’s 1500m in Oregon finishing ninth overall in the semi-finals clocking a time of 4:16.77.

Gerald Phiri (Texas A&M) looking to complete a 100m and 200m sprint double qualified through to the 200m final in 20.79secs, however, compatriot James Alaka (Washington) finished fourth in heat 3 with a time of 21.11 outside of a fastest loser position.

Natalie Pearson (Asheville) finished with a time of 24.07secs in the preliminary rounds of the 200m to finish seventh in her heat and 18th overall in the event failing to progress.

Ruth Senior (University of New Mexico) started the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at a good pace but fell after the first water jump. The rain was coming down very heavy as Senior, a former BUCS champion over the distance, finished the race with a time of 10:20.45 in 9th place missing out on qualification.

John Beattie (Tulsa) in his final appearance on the NCAA circuit finished 10th overall in the men's 10,000m semi-finals failing to progress with a time of 29:16.48.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Live video streaming is available on the following link: www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/inc/div1/c-otrack-div1-livestreams.html

Live results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAA/

2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships

Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA

Wednesday 9th June 2010 - Day 1

CHRIS GOWELL (800m) and Gerald Phiri (100m) produced the standout performances in for British athletes in Track Town USA qualifying through to their respective finals on a rain-affected opening day of competition at the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships staged at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

In the men's 800 metres, two-time All-American Chris Gowell (Baylor) placed second in his heat and sixth overall with a time of 1:49.69 to qualify for Friday’s final.

Despite the rainy conditions Gowell sat in just behind the leaders before sprinting to the front with 200 metres to go. From there, Gowell and Oregon's Andrew Wheating made the charge home to secure the two automatic qualifying positions.

Gerald Phiri (Texas A&M) had a very busy day in Oregon running in the men’s 4x100m relay at the start of the track programme as the team of Tran Howell, Bryan Miller, Curtis Mitchell and Phiri won their heat time of 39.05secs matching their best effort of the year from the NCAA West preliminary round in Austin.

In the individual 100m Phiri finished second in heat 3 with a time of 10.28secs to qualify through. James Alaka (Washington) failed to progress in heat 2 finishing 6th in 10.37.

Lucy Yates (Utah) claimed eighth place in the second heat of the women’s 800m semi-finals with a time of 2:15.43, finishing 23rd in the overall standings of the event and was unable to progress into the final heat.

In the opening heat of the men's 400m Toby Ulm (Georgetown) clocked a time of 52.29secs to finish in 7th place missing out on qualification.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Live video streaming is available on the following link: www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/inc/div1/c-otrack-div1-livestreams.html

Live results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAA/

Wednesday 9th June 2010

TONIGHT in the American running mecca of Eugene, Oregon, the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships begin and will continue over the weekend (9th-12th June) as the top ranked collegiate athletes in the United States from the regional conference qualifiers go head-to-head in the medal chase at Hayward Field.

Eleven British athletes will line-up at the iconic Track Town USA venue that stages the championships for the first time since 2001 - the stadium made famous by the legendary runner Steve Prefontaine and home to next month’s IAAF Diamond League meeting that bares his name - all striving for NCAA glory at the season-ending championships that marks the finale of the collegiate athletics outdoor campaign in America.

In the men events James Alaka (Washington) will compete over the 100m and 200m sprint double alongside Gerald Phiri (Texas A&M) also runs in the 100m.

In the middle-distance races Chris Gowell (Baylor) goes in the 800m, reigning two-time NCAA indoor mile champion Lee Emanuel (New Mexico) runs over the metric 1500m version attempting to add an outdoor medal to his growing collection as he lines-up alongside David Forrester (Florida State).

Toby Ulm (Georgetown) takes on the 400m hurdles, whilst, John Beattie (Tulsa) competes over 10,000m.

In the women’s section Natalie Pearson (Asheville) runs in the 200m and the inform Lucy Yates (Utah) having set a lifetime best to qualify for Eugene competes over 800m.

NCAA indoor mile champion Charlotte Browning (Florida) has a good chance of a medal and goes in the 1500m as former British Universities champion Ruth Senior (New Mexico) in her debut season on the NCAA circuit lines-up in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Preview by Mark Woolley.

Live video streaming is available on the following link: www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/inc/div1/c-otrack-div1-livestreams.html

Live results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAA/

Sunday 29th May 2010

ON the final day of competition in the West and East Prelims there was further success for British student athletes as they rubber-stamped their ticket for next months 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that take place in Eugene (10th-13th June).

In Greensboro, North Carolina, in the East Regional Prelims Florida’s Charlotte Browning, the women’s 1500m SEC outdoor champion ran a strategic race to finish third overall in the quarter-finals with a time of 4mins 18.46secs advancing to the NCAA Championships.

Florida State’s David Forrester finished third in his heat of the 1500m with 3:51.70 to also qualify through. University of Florida’s Justin Taylor failed to progress finishing seventh in 3:52.95.

Natalie Pearson became the first UNC Asheville track and field athlete to ever qualify for the nationals as she ran a school-record of 23.47secs in the women's 200 metres.

In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase held over from the previous day due to heavy rain, Butler’s Rob Mullett finished in 16th place in 8:51.82 with team mate Steve Lisgo 35th in 9:12.51 outside of the top twelve qualifiers for Eugene. Alex Felce representing New York’s Stony Brook University clocked 9:10.08 to claim 32nd place overall.

Butler’s Joe Macdonald finished in 33rd place overall in the men’s 5,000m with a time of 14:39.46.

In the West Regional Prelims in Austin, Texas, double indoor NCAA mile champion Lee Emanuel ran a time of 3:38.81 in the 1500m to qualify for Eugene. Emanuel was one of the top five finishers in his heat and ran the third best time of the field inside the Myers Stadium record of 3:43.32 set in 2001.

Fellow Lobos David Bishop missed out by two places in 14th with a time of 3:43.77, whilst, Ross Millington clocked 3:48.64 to secure 20th place overall.

There was huge disappointment for New Mexico’s Rory Fraser missing out on qualification by a margin of just 0.24secs in the men’s 5,000m finishing 13th in 14:10.47. Tulsa's Lewis Timmins finished 23rd in 14:32.61.

Gerald Phiri of Texas A&M and Washington’s James Alaka progressed to the finals of the men’s 200m finishing 4th and 8th respectively with times of 20.57 and 20.71 in their semi-final heats.

A trio of New Mexico Lobos competed in the women’s 5,000m heats as Ruth Senior, having already qualified for Eugene in the steeplechase, finished 17th in 17:02.86, followed by Nicky Archer 26th in 17:22.46 and Ashley Gibson 40th in 17:47.74. Gibson also competed in the 1500m finishing 15th in a season's best of 4:24.28.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:

WEST REGION: Austin, Texas

www.texassports.com/livestats/m-track/index.htm

EAST REGION: Greensboro, North Carolina

www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAAEast/

Saturday 29th May 2010

BRITISH student athletes continued their quest at the East & West Preliminaries to book their ticket for next months 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that take place in Eugene (10th-13th June).

Only the top 12 out of 48 competitors in each regional event will advance to the NCAA finals at Hayward Field.

In the West Prelims at the Mike A. Meyers Stadium in Austin, Texas, former Loughborough student Ruth Senior representing the New Mexico Lobos finished third in the first heat of the women's 3,000 metre steeplechase to earn her place in the semi-finals in Eugene next month clocking a time of 10mins 15.46secs.

Gerald Phiri of Texas A&M was in sparkling form setting the fastest qualifying time to reach the final of the men’s 100m clocking 10.17 (-0.9). Washington’s James Alaka claimed 8th place overall in 10.42 (-0.9) to also progress.

In the 200m heats Phiri and Alaka finished 7th and 13th overall in qualifying with times of 20.77 and 20.93secs respectively.

Utah’s Lucy Yates having set a university record (2:06.21) with a lifetime best in the heats of the 800m the previous day qualified through to the semi-final in Eugene on her debut season in the NCAA finishing in 9th place with a time of 2:07.34.

All-American Chris Gowell racing in the colours of Baylor University also progressed in the men’s 800m finishing 7th in 1:47.38, however, Sam Evans representing New Mexico was eliminated finishing 16th in 1:49.88.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, on the Irwin Belk Track with the programme badly affected by rain delays Toby Ulm of Georgetown edged through to the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles in Eugene qualifying as a fastest loser with a time of 50.71 finishing in 11th place.

Natalie Pearson of Asheville finished 16th overall in the women’s 200m with a mark of 23.76 (-1.3).

The men’s 3,000m steeplechase was postponed until the following day due to the adverse weather conditions.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:

WEST REGION: Austin, Texas

www.texassports.com/livestats/m-track/index.htm

EAST REGION: Greensboro, North Carolina

www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAAEast/

Friday 28th May 2010

ON the opening day of track competition at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship East & West Preliminaries British student athletes produced a fine set of positive results in Austin, Texas and Greensboro, North Carolina, (27th-29th May).

Only the top 12 out of 48 competitors in each regional event will advance to the NCAA finals that take place at Hayward Field in Eugene next month (10th-13th June).

In the West Prelims at the Mike A. Meyers Stadium the New Mexico Lobos had all three competitors in the men’s 1500 metres qualify for the quarter-finals as double indoor mile champion Lee Emanuel finished second with a time of 3:43.31 behind the winner A.J. Acosta (3:42.76) from Oregon. David Bishop clocked a time of 3:44.21 as Ross Millington finished with a time of 3:50.58 to qualify through.

Sam Evans ran a time of 1:49.52 in the 800m preliminaries to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Utah's Lucy Yates set a new school record in the 800m finishing as the runner-up after the first round in 2:06.21.

New Mexico’s Ashley Gibson also hit a qualifying time of 4:26.14 in the women’s 1500m, whilst, Oklahoma’s Felicity Milton narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 10,000m finishing 14th in her race with a time of 34:53.17. Nicky Archer of New Mexico finished 22nd in 35:24.87. Only the top 12 finishers advanced to the next round.

Tulsa's John Beattie qualified through in 9th place in the men's 10,000m with a mark of 29:41.67.

Gerald Phiri representing Texas A&M eased through the first round of the men's 100m clocking 10.30secs to win his heat.

Washington's James Alaka struggled coming out of the blocks in the sixth and final heat of the 100m, but he still cruised to second place in a time of 10.49secs that qualifies him for the quarter-finals.

Senior All-American Chris Gowell produced one of the performances of the day running the fastest time in the 800 metres to qualify first for Baylor University setting a season’s best time of 1:47.81.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, on the Irwin Belk Track reigning NCAA indoor women’s mile champion Charlotte Browning representing the Florida Gators advanced to the quarter-finals of the 1500m finishing 13th overall in the first round in 4:22.54.

Toby Ulm of Georgetown was second in his 400m hurdles heat in 50.78secs to qualify. Natalie Pearson from Asheville ran 11.71 secs (0.8m/s) but failed to progress in the women's 100m

Florida State’s David Forrester qualified through in the men’s 1500m finishing 13th in 3:48.76 as Kris Gauson in the colours of Butler University finished in 31st place overall clocking a time of 3:51.66.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full Results:

WEST REGION: Austin, Texas

www.texassports.com/livestats/m-track/index.htm

EAST REGION: Greensboro, North Carolina

www.flashresults.com/2010_Meets/outdoor/NCAAEast/

Thursday 27th May 2010

LEICESTERSHIRE’S Rory Fraser and Felicity Milton are on their marks ready to race over 5,000m and 10,000m respectively this weekend at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Preliminaries in Austin, Texas, (27th-29th May).

Now in his second year at the University of New Mexico, Fraser (23), from the Leicester OWLS club was an NCAA Indoor and Outdoor qualifier in the 5,000m last year and a two-time all-region cross-country runner, plus an All-America candidate in the 5,000m over the 2010 and will line-up on Saturday with ‘Lobo’ team mates Jacob Kirwa and Brock Hagerman in their quarter final heat.

The futures bright, the futures Orange as Felicity Milton (23), in her debut year on the NCAA circuit represents the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls team at the Mike A. Meyers Stadium in Austin and goes into the championships in fine form having ran her best 10,000m time at the Mt. Sac Relays in April clocking a time of 34:17.72.

Article by Mark Woolley.

The 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship Preliminaries take place at the Mike A. Meyers Stadium in Austin, Texas from 27th-29th May, full reports and results will be available on athletics-leics.com.

Sunday 16th May 2010

NCAA indoor mile champion Charlotte Browning (AFD) captured the women’s 1500m title with a lifetime best performance at the 2010 SEC Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, clocking a time of 4mins 13.96secs.

In the championships that were badly affected by delays on the final day of competition due to heavy rain and lightening at the Tom Black track, European U23 team gold medallist Browning became the first Florida athlete to win the SEC outdoor women’s 1500m title since Hazel Clark in 1999. Compatriot Stacey Johnson (Cannock & Staffs) was sixth in 4:24.05.

“This was my first 1500 of the year, so I didn’t know how prepared I was,” Browning reflected. “I knew I had been training well and, going into the competition, I was level-headed. I knew it was going to be one of the hardest races all year and I’m really pleased with the outcome.”

Felicity Milton (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) representing the Oklahoma State Cowgirl track and field team finished eighth over 5,000m at the Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Missouri, the 23-year-old from Rutland clocking a time of 16:26.89 at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium.

At the 2010 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships Steve Lisgo (Mansfield) led Butler University to a clean sweep of the top four places in the men’s 1500m with a winning time of 3:50.98, and the 23-year-old also won the men’s steeplechase in 8:54.20.

Kris Gauson (Belgrave) finished runner-up in both the 800m and the 1500m. He crossed the finish line in the 800m in a time of 1:51.85, just 0:00.41 behind winner, American Matt Zaluckyj, and finished the 1500m in 3:51.01, just 0:00.03 behind Lisgo.



Rob Mullett finished second in the steeplechase in 9:01.56 and third in the 1500m in 3:51.09, whilst, former Loughborough student Joe Macdonald (Trafford) was fourth in the 1500m (3:51.95).

Saturday 15th May 2010

BRITISH athletes collected a total of seven medals (one gold, two silver, four bronze) in action representing the University of New Mexico ‘Lobos’ track and field team at the Mountain West Conference Championships in Albuquerque (12th-15th May).

American Chris Barnicle produced an outstanding performance in the men's 5,000m taking gold with a stadium record mark of 14:18.20 as teammate Rory Fraser (OWLS) secured bronze with a time of 14:40.35, compatriot Ross Millington (Stockport) finished fourth in 14:52.29.

The NCAA mile champion Lee Emanuel (Sheffield) won gold for the second time in his American college career in the 1500m setting a stadium record time of 3:44.99, this having won in 2008 with a time of 3:47.63. David Bishop (Bristol & West) clocked a time of 3:47.34 taking third place with teammate Millington fourth in 3:47.48.

Emanuel went on to take second in the 800m with a time of 1:49.46 as Sam Evans (Birchfield) ran a season-best to claim bronze 1:50.08

Loughborough graduate Ashley Gibson (Elswick) won bronze in the women’s 1500m with a time of 4:31.81, whilst, fellow Loughborough Alumni, former BUCS champion Ruth Senior (City of Norwich), claimed silver over the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:48.90 in the race won by Colorado’s Kristen Hemphill in a stadium record of 10:35.85.

Saturday 8th May 2010

WORLD finalist Michael Bingham with a strong performance finished runner-up to Belgium's Kevin Borlee over 400m at the Seminole Twilight meeting in Florida, this having finished runner-up to his brother Jonathan in the 2009 NCAA final last year.

On the Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Bingham, the 24-year-old former Loughborough-based sprinter clocked a time of 46.08secs on his season debut as Borlee claimed victory in 44.89 - a mark that ranks in the top 10 best performances in the NCAA this season.

In Fayetteville, Arkansas last summer Bingham closed out his impressive American university career by finishing in the silver medal position behind champion Jonathan Borlee in the NCAA outdoor final.

Saturday 1st May 2010

FORMER Loughborough student Ruth Senior, the 2009 British Universities champion broke the University of New Mexico record over the 3,000m steeplechase with a lifetime best of 10mins 09.14secs at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford, California.

The 22-year-old City of Norwich athlete surpassed the old record (10:38.20) set in 2008 by American Kara Henry by 29 seconds.

"I was trying not to think about the time I just tried to go out and run," Senior said. "I was actually a little disappointed I thought I would run faster. But I really can't complain. My old PB was four years old so it feels good to better that. It feels good to get the first one out of the way, the steeple is a hard race to run."

Senior's previous personal best in the event was 10:12.50, set at the World Junior Championships.

In his first outdoor meeting of the season Rory Fraser (OWLS) ran a time of 14:04.07 in the 5,000m.

Friday 16th April 2010

FELICITY Milton on her debut over the 10,000m distance clocked a time of 34mins 17.71secs to finish fifth at the 52nd Annual Mt.SAC Relays on the track of the Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, California, on Thursday (15th April).

The 23-year-old British international from Exton, Leicestershire representing the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls team finish fifth in the race won by Princeton’s Sarah Cummings in 33:55.91.

Full results are available on the following link: www.flashresults.com/flashwest/10Meets/10Mtsac/

Saturday 10th April 2010

JOE MacDonald led a trio of British athletes representing Butler University over the line winning the men’s 1500m at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational, held at the Redhawks' campus in Oxford, Ohio.

In perfect conditions on a glorious spring day Loughborough Alumni MacDonald (24), clocked a time of 3mins 44.76secs to take victory ahead of compatriots and team mates Kris Gauson (3:45.67) and Rob Mullett (3:46.29).

Fellow Brit’s Darren Gauson (3:48.13), Andrew Sherman (3:51.05) and Steve Lisgo (3:54.37) filled the next three places as Butler dominated the event.

Full results are available on the following link: www.hillsdalesites.org/chargers/track/0910/M41010.pdf

Wednesday 7th April 2010

LOUGHBOROUGH Alumni Kemel Thompson enjoyed a long and successful career as one of Jamaica’s top 400m sprint hurdlers in the pre-Usain Bolt era that witnessed the highly popular athlete reach a career-high IAAF ranking of second in the world with a lifetime best of 48.05 seconds competing in both the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games before in the Australian city of Melbourne gaining an individual Commonwealth bronze medal in 2006.

For many years, Thompson, after graduating from Loughborough University lived and trained in the Leicestershire market town as apart of coach Nick Dakin’s elite sprint group that included Britain’s Martyn Rooney and the double European indoor champion David Gillick.

However, when he finally retired from competitive action in 2007 after securing a top eight IAAF world ranking for five consecutive years Thompson returned to the place where he spent his formative years - the sunshine state of Florida.

Thompson, moved to the United States when he was 11, and was a graduate of Gateway High School in the popular tourist destination of Kissimmee, before joining the University of South Florida graduating in 1996.

In 2002 he crossed the Atlantic to gain a Master’s degree in Business Management at Loughborough University before returning to the United States in 2007 forming and managing a construction company with his father.

However, with athletics still fresh in the mind and the passion for the sport running through his veins an offer came along that the 35-year-old found impossible to turn down when in 2008 (USF) University of South Florida Director of Athletics Doug Woolard and Associate Athletic Director for Development Vicki Mitchell offered Thompson the position as Director of the Bulls Varsity Club.

The USF Bulls track and field teams which includes British middle distance runner Yasmin Smith in their squad are certainly starting to show the benefits of having Thompson on board as he reflects on the past eighteen months of competition:

“Our track team is definitely improved. It's probably the strongest track team we've had in a while in terms of talent. Once we get past the freshmen blues here, I think we're going to be seeing some good performances.”

He continued: “I think the talent level has stepped up in terms of what we've recruited and what we had this year. Over the next couple of years, I fully expect to see several people from the school going to NCAA nationals. If they are high enough and they get into the All-America spots.

“It's going to be impressive, the freshmen that we have, now they already have a year under their belt, the team's going to be rockin.”

Thompson’s success on the track, educational background, and passion and energy for his alma mater has made him the ideal candidate for the position at USF and the next few years look set to reap the benefit of the amiable Jamaican.

Article by Mark Woolley.

Friday 2nd April 2010

THE 2010 NCAA indoor mile champion Charlotte Browning (AFD) dropped down in distance to take a fine victory over 800 metres clocking a time of 2mins 06.42secs at the 66th edition of the Pepsi Florida Relays.

The 22-year-old European U23 Cross Country team gold medallist finished ahead of Western Kentucky’s Vasity Chemweno (2:07.67) on the Gator’s home track in Gainesville.

Full results are available on the following link: www.halfmiletiming.com/Datafiles/Spring2010/UF10/FLRelays/FloridaRelays10.htm

Saturday 27th March 2010

RUTH Senior competing at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, California, smashed the University of New Mexico record over 5,000m clocking a time of 15mins 57.32secs taking over 19 seconds off the previous record (16:16.9).

Senior, the former Loughborough student and reigning BUCS 3,000m steeplechase champion surpassed the record set by Kathy Pfiefer way back in 1984 by finishing fifth in section 1 of the women's 5,000m at the Cobb Track and Angell Field.

"I am very happy," Senior said. "I knew it was going to be fast. I wasn't expecting to run that quick. I didn't think about the time I just ran it. I can't believe I just ran that fast."

"I ran a PB indoors in Seattle and I've been training well since then," Senior said. "I felt good, felt comfortable, I just ran. I was quite shocked to see my time when I crossed the finish line."

Fellow Lobo and Loughborough Alumni, Ashley Gibson also set a new personal best in the 5,000m, clocking 16:35.67.

Saturday 13th March 2010

CHARLOTTE Browning and Lee Emanuel secured a superb double gold medal victory for Great Britain over the mile at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Charlotte Browning (Florida Gators) has been in scintillating form indoors over the winter and completed victory in a time of 4mins 35.66secs to claim the title at the Randal Tyson Center finishing ahead of Washington’s Katie Follett (4:36.39), with Pilar McShine representing Florida State third (4:37.20).

Former Loughborough student, Browning, the 2010 SEC Indoor champion in both the mile and 3,000m run, is the first Gator woman to win a national champion in the mile since Becki Wells back in 1997.

Browning said: “I have worked so hard this year and it worked out for the best. Our team needed ten points so I did what I needed to do. I wanted to get the front and hit hard. I just kept hammering and hammering. I tried to create a gap and I ran for my life. I did not know where anyone else was so I just kept pushing.”

Lee Emanuel (University of New Mexico) successfully defended his championship title with a dominant performance to become the first Lobo ever to win back-to-back NCAA crowns.

Emanuel made a strong move out of the pack to take over the lead with 800 metres to go. This time, however, the field wilted behind Emanuel's blistering pace as he ran the final three laps unchallenged.

He crossed the line in 3:59.26 - 2.37 seconds ahead of the runner-up Mac Fleet representing Oregon (4:01.63).

Teammate, Leicestershire’s Rory Fraser, finished in 6th place in the men’s 3,000m with a time of 8:12.88 to earn All-America honours for the first time. Emanuel finished 12th in 8:19.35.

Full results are available on the following link: http://www.ncaa.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/ncaa/sports/c-itrack/auto_pdf/ITrack-D1-2010Final

Saturday 13th March 2010

FELICITY Milton earned All-American honours with an eighth-place finish in the women’s 5,000 metres at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in front of 3,500 fans at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville on Friday.

Milton’s time of 16mins 01.90secs finished more than five seconds ahead of ninth place and earned Oklahoma State’s first women’s indoor All-America honor since 2002.

Milton becomes the third Cowgirl to earn All-American honours in the 5,000 metres all-time, joining NCAA champion Siri Alfheim in 2002 and Sara Wells in 2001. Her mark was the third-fastest on OSU’s all-time indoor 5,000 metre list.

Fellow Leicestershire athlete Rory Fraser (New Mexico) was unable to hold his strong early pace and finished 13th (14:07.77) in his second straight NCAA Championships 5,000m appearance. Fraser held third place for most of the race, however, with four laps to go, however, Fraser faded back to the chase pack.

Former Loughborough student Charlotte Browning representing the Florida Gator’s, the national leader over the women’s mile, won her heat and finished fifth overall in the mile prelims to automatically qualify for Saturday’s final with a time of 4:43.35.