2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium

Monday 3rd May 2010 – Day 3

LOUGHBOROUGH students collected an impressive total of 33 medals over the three-days of competition at the 2010 BUCS Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Bedford including ten individual gold’s nine silver and six bronze plus a relay double to cap a fine weekend for the African Violets - retaining both the men’s and women’s overall titles.

Meghan Beesley set Loughborough on their way successfully defending her 400m hurdles title, the 20-year-old world junior bronze medallist clocked a time of 58.52secs at the Bedford International Stadium leading a 1-2 over the line for the Loughborough Students with team mate Justine Kinney (1:00.59) securing silver for the third consecutive year. Caryl Granville (Cardiff) 1:01.41 completed the podium places.

This was Beesley’s second only race over the 400m hurdles in 2010 having won in Walnut, California at the Mt SAC Relays last month with a seasons best of 56.97.

Nial Flannery on his BUCS debut completed a sprint double for Loughborough over the one-lap hurdles as the English schools and England U20 gold medallist prevailed in a time of 52.73.2secs ahead of Simon Merrill (Bath) 53.17 
and Steven Garrett (Sheffield) 53.39.

In the men’s flat 400m pre-championship favourite Luke Lennon-Ford (Wolverhampton) lived-up to his billing as the UK indoor bronze medallist claimed gold ahead of Richard Davenport (Loughborough) with a time of 47.48secs.

Davenport claimed second to improve on his bronze medal twelve months ago clocking 47.72 with team mate Benjamin Higgins (Loughborough) 48.43 securing a podium position.

Sarah Adams replicated Davenport’s performance to take silver for Loughborough in the women’s 400m final with a time of 54.99secs in the race where the outstanding talent Perri Shakes-Drayton (Brunel) blasted to an impressive championship record mark of 52.98. Emma Pullen (UWIC) 55.32 took the bronze.

Paul Goodall held his nerve to take victory for Loughborough in a tight hard fought men’s 800m final. The 23-year-old from the City of Norwich club edged out the reigning BUCS indoor champion Tom Marley to win in a time of 1:56.10
2. The 2008 outdoor champion Kieran Flannery (Loughborough) was third in 1:56.52.

Margaret Adeoye (Surrey) won the women’s 200m final with a time of 23.90secs 
as Liverpool Harrier Mica Nottingham (Loughborough) won silver 24.57
 ahead of Rebecca Williams (Birmingham) 24.69.

World University Cross Country Championships team silver medallist Kirsty Milner (Loughborough) was edged into second place in a highly competitive women’s 5,000m in the race where World junior championships 1500m bronze medallist Emma Pallant (Brunel) improving on her runners-up position last year prevailed in a time of 16:43.35 
to 16:45.73. Cathy Ansell (Imperial) three seconds adrift claimed bronze in 16:48.28.

There was also a silver lining for Emily Pidgeon (Loughborough) in the women's 1500m final
 as the 20-year-old lost out to Scotland’s former European U20 champion Morag Maclarty (Dundee) 4:20.24
 to 4:22.43. Emma Jackson (Keele) 4:24.03 was third.

Defending champion Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam), the Euro U23 semi-finalist retained 100m hurdles title with a time of 13.75secs as Gateshead Harrier Lauren Dewdney (Loughborough) secured the silver medal in 13.96
 with Serita Solomon (Middlesex) 13.99 third.

In the men’s 110m hurdles final reigning European U20 champion Lawrence Clarke (Bristol) improved on his silver medal last year by taking the title with a time of 13.85secs 
ahead of Joseph Hylton (Bath) 14.70 
and third placed David Feeney (Loughborough) 14.80.

Nick Goolab (Birmingham) the European U20 cross-country championships individual silver medallist on his BUCS debut on the track won the men’s 5,000m clocking a time of 14:40.19 
ahead of Rory Chesser (St Mary's) 14:43.39 
and third placed Stephen Emery (Loughborough) 14:54.96.

Matt Burton (Loughborough) continued his outstanding season completing the BUCS double winning the outdoor title with a leap of 7.44 metres, this having set a championship best and PB of 7.69 indoors in Sheffield. Daniel Gardiner (Leeds Met Carnegie) won silver with 7.19. Bradley Pickup (Loughborough) 7.12 secured bronze.

Gateshead Harrier Melissa Carr (Loughborough) improved significantly on her fourth place in 2008 as the 21-year-old won the women’s triple jump title with a leap of 12.34 metres. Angela Barrett (London) 12.28
 and Shakira Whight (Brunel) 12.08 filled the other two podium places.

In the men’s shot final Rimantas Martisauskas (Leeds Met Carnegie) and Ryan Spencer-Jones (UWIC) fought out their predicted battle with Lithuanian Martisauskas finally winning gold after two previous silver medals - taking the BUCS title double with a best of 17.76 metres.

Spencer-Jones had to settle with 16.76 for second place once again having finished runner-up to Martisauskas in Sheffield. Robert Mohan (Loughborough) 15.90 took the bronze.

In the final track action of the championships Loughborough won double gold in the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men's 400m Final

1. Luke Lennon (Wolverhampton) 47.48

2. Richard Davenport (Loughborough) 47.72

3. Benjamin Higgins (Loughborough) 48.43
Men's 110m Hurdles Final
1. Lawrence Clarke (Bristol) 13.85

2. Joseph Hylton (Bath) 14.70

3. David Feeney (Loughborough) 14.80
Men's 400m Hurdles Final

1. Nial Flannery (Loughborough) 52.73

2. Simon Merrill (Bath) 53.17

3. Steven Garrett (Sheffield) 53.39
Men's 800m Final

1. Paul Goodall (Loughborough) 1:56.10

2. Tom Marley (UWIC) 1:56.24

3. Kieran Flannery (Loughborough) 1:56.52
Men's 5000m Final

1. Nick Goolab (Birmingham) 14:40.19

2. Rory Chesser (St Mary's) 14:43.39

3. Stephen Emery (Loughborough) 14:54.96
Men's Long Jump

1. Matthew Burton (Loughborough) 7.44

2. Daniel Gardiner (Leeds Met Carnegie) 7.19

3. Bradley Pickup (Loughborough) 7.12
Men's Shot Final

1. Rimantas Martisauskas (Leeds Met Carnegie) 17.76

2. Ryan Spencer Jones (UW Newport) 16.76

3. Robert Mohan (Loughborough) 15.90
Men's 4 x 400m Relay Final

1. Loughborough 3:13.70

2. Birmingham 3:19.74

3. UWIC 3:21.63
Women's 200m Final
1. Margaret Adeoye (Surrey) 23.90

2. Mica Nottingham (Loughborough) 24.57

3. Rebecca Williams (Birmingham) 24.69
Women's 400m Final

1. Perri Shakes-Drayton (Brunel) 52.98 CBP

2. Sarah Adams (Loughborough) 54.99

3. Emma Pullen (UWIC) 55.32
Women's 100m Hurdles Final

1. Zara Hohn (Sheffield Hallam) 13.75

2. Lauren Dewdney (Loughborough) 13.96

3. Serita Solomon (Middlesex) 13.99
Women's 400m Hurdles Final


1. Meghan Beesley (Loughborough) 58.42


2. Justine Kinney (Loughborough) 1:00.59


3. Caryl Granville (Cardiff) 1:01.41
Women's 1500m Final

1. Morag Maclarty (Dundee) 4:20.24

2. Emily Pidgeon (Loughborough) 4:22.43

3. Emma Jackson (Keele) 4:24.03
Women's Triple Jump Final

1. Melissa Carr (Loughborough) 12.34

2. Angela Barrett (London) 12.28

3. Shakira Whight (Brunel) 12.08
Women's 5000m Final

1. Emma Pallant (Brunel) 16:43.35

2. Kirsty Milner (Loughborough) 16:45.73

3. Cathy Ansell (Imperial) 16:48.28
Women's 4 x 400m Relay Final

1. Loughborough 3:42.69

2. Brunel 3:44.72

3. UWIC 3:52.11

2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium

Sunday 2nd May 2010 – Day 2 Afternoon Session

ON the second day of competition at the 2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships Loughborough athletes continued to shine in the field events as Paul Walker (pole vault) claimed an excellent gold medal adding to Sally Scott (pole vault) and Rosie Semenytsh (javelin) title winning performances the previous day, whilst, Joseph Bloomfield (discus) secured a fine silver.

Following Natalie Gray's fine 10,000m track gold in the morning session, the afternoon’s programme on Day 2 witnessed further success for the African Violets in the field events.

Paul Walker completed a hat-trick of BUCS titles in the men’s pole vault transferring his impressive indoor form to the outdoor arena as the 24-year-old targets a place in the Welsh squad for the Delhi Commonwealth Games later this year.

Having set a new lifetime best of 5.43m at the Vienna Indoor Classic back in February the Sale Harrier won the competition in Bedford with a more modest height of 5.00m ahead of fellow Welsh rival Scott Simpson (UWIC) 4.90m and Loughborough team mate Ben Gregory 4.90m.

Another Welsh athlete who looks certain to be on the plane to Delhi is discus thrower Brett Morse (UWIC) having improved his lifetime best this season throwing 60.25m at the Euro Cup Winter Throws event the Birchfield Harrier secured his third BUCS title with a mark of 59.19 as Joseph Bloomfield (Loughborough) claimed silver ahead with a best of 44.47, having set a lifetime best of 44.84 at the Loughborough Open (BUCS Trials) meeting the previous weekend. Nicholas Sheuerman (UWIC) 43.69 completed the podium places.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men's Pole Vault Final

1 Paul Walker (Loughborough) 5.00

2 Scott Simpson (UWIC) 4.90

3 Ben Gregory (Loughborough) 4.90
Men's Discus Final

1 Brett Morse (UWIC) 59.19

2 Joseph Bloomfield (Loughborough) 44.47

3 Nicholas Sheuerman (UWIC) 43.69

2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium


Sunday 2nd May 2010 – Day 2 Morning Session

NATALIE Gray won 10,000m gold for the Loughborough Students on the opening morning of competition on Day 2 of the 2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships in Bedford.

Gray (22), from the Medway & Maidstone club having won team gold for Great Britain at the FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Ontario, Canada, last month clocked a time of 34mins 51.72secs at the Bedford International Stadium securing victory for Loughborough with a determined solo run finishing almost two-minutes ahead of second placed Durham’s Rebecca Howarth (36:51.53) with team mate Katie Lomas (37:41.19) completing the podium places. 


Birchfield Harrier Debbie Walters (34:48.79) was the winner of the Sheila Fairweather Inspiration race incorporated into event.

Former champion Sarah Gaunt (Charnwood) finished in fourth place overall in 36:14.48 running as a guest competitor.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
10,000m Women's Final
1 Natalie Gray (Loughborough) 34:51.72
2 Rebecca Howarth (Durham) 36:51.53
3 Katie Lomas (Loughborough) 37:41.19
Sheila Fairweather Inspiration 10,000m
1 Debbie Walters (Birchfield) 34:48.79

2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships

Bedford International Stadium


Saturday 1st May 2010 - Day 1

LOUGHBOROUGH students claimed two superb field gold’s and a championship record on the opening day of competition at the 2010 BUCS Track & Field Championships in Bedford as Sally Scott (pole vault) and Rosie Semenytsh (javelin) prevailed in their respective finals.

On Day 1 of competition in the championships which in 2012 will be the test event for the new Olympic Stadium ahead of the London Games, United Kingdom U20 record-holder Sally Scott was in sparkling form winning the pole vault final improving the championship best performance with a leap of 4.01 metres finishing clear of team mate Abigail Haywood and Jessica Abraham (UWIC) tied on countback with 3.80 as Abraham claimed the silver.

Scott’s fine performance completed the outdoor and indoor championship double for the 19-year-old Gateshead Harrier having won in Sheffield back in February and she currently holds the British UK U20 record (4.14m) set in 2009 at the Touraine Pole Vault Festival in Veigné, France.

Sale Harrier Rosie Semenytsh completed a superb hat-trick of BUCS titles for Loughborough, the 22-year-old with a huge lifetime best throw of 50.34
 metres completed her third straight title success finishing clear of Samantha Cullinane (Leeds Met Carnegie) 43.98 
and fellow African Violet Sophie Thomas (Loughborough) 40.98 completing the podium places.

Reigning English schools champion Emily Diamond (Loughborough) shone bright on her BUCS debut, a finalist over 200m at the European U20 championships last summer the 18-year-old claimed a fine silver in the women’s 100m final clocking a time of 11.78secs finishing runner-up to Margaret Adeoye (Surrey) 11.77 with Amy Godsell (Brunel) third in 12.03.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Women's 100m Final
1 Margaret Adeoye (Surrey) 11.77
2 Emily Diamond (Loughborough) 11.78
3 Amy Godsell (Brunel) 12.03
Women's Pole Vault Final
1. Sally Scott (Loughborough) 4.01 CBP
=2 Jessica Abraham (UWIC) 3.80
=2 Abigail Haywood (Loughborough) 3.80
Women's Javelin Final
1 Rosanna Semenytsh (Loughborough) 50.34
2 Sam Cullinane (Leeds Met Carnegie) 43.98
3 Sophie Thomas (Loughborough) 40.98

Friday 30th April 2010

FOLLOWING discussion with both the BUCS Athletics Sports Management Group and Loughborough University it has been agreed that BUCS will not be sending a representative team to compete in the McCain Loughborough International Athletics Meeting that takes place on Sunday 23rd May.

BUCS is currently undertaking a strategic review of its sporting offer and is not in a position to support the team to the level required for this representative honour at the meeting.

It is their intention that this is only a one-year absence from the event and they look forward to fielding a team in 2011.

Tickets are available on the following link: www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=385475&interface=

Paula Radcliffe Track, Loughborough University Campus

Saturday 24th April 2010

FULL results of the Loughborough Students Open (BUCS Trials) Athletics Meeting staged at the Paula Radcliffe Track on Saturday 24th April are available below:
Full Results:
Track Events:
400m Hurdles UKA U18 Women
1 239 4 Abigayle Fitzpatrick UKA 1:01.67
2 243 7 Hayley McLean UKA 1:02.59
3 281 6 Millie Clifford UKA 1:03.85
4 247 5 Hannah Lloyd UKA 1:05.20
5 199 3 Gabriella Ade-Onojobi UKA 1:09.12
6 198 8 Megan Rogers UKA 1:11.49
400m Hurdles UKA U18 Men
1 190 7 Jacob Paul UKA 55.08
2 188 6 Sam Maguire UKA 56.06
3 192 4 Simon Davies UKA 56.67
4 189 3 Paul Cave UKA 57.23
5 191 5 Byron Fitzgerald UKA 57.76
400m Hurdles Women
1 26 7 Gabrielle Coveney LSAC 1:01.93
2 148 5 Emily Moss Peterborough 1:02.53
3 152 4 Samantha Coleby LSAC 1:02.67
4 182 3 Katie Murray LSAC 1:03.76
5 25 8 Chloe Whalley LSAC 1:05.89
400m Hurdles Men
1 177 3 Stephan Garrett City of Sheffield 53.80
2 71 6 Callum Ford Charnwood 54.66
3 271 7 Mike Haslett UWIC 55.77
800m Men
1 150 3 Ben Green LSAC 1:52.05
2 160 8 Chris Warburton LSAC 1:52.47
3 55 9 Paul Goodall LSAC 1:52.61
4 54 2 Stuart Cameron LSAC 1:54.10
5 154 6 Rob Hodges LSAC 1:54.45
6 51 10 James Phillips LSAC 1:54.78
7 168 5 Matt Sullivan LSAC 1:55.24
8 50 8 Toby Griffiths LSAC 1:58.29
9 163 11 Jordan Bransberg Skyrac AC 2:03.95
10 125 4 Andrew Warburton LSAC 2:09.96
11 145 1 Rebecca Newton(U20) Hallamshire Harriers 2:22.88
100m Women Wind: -0.3 M/S
1 136 6 Hannah Thomas (U20) Wrexham 12.45
2 14 8 Laura Hitchman LSAC 12.69
3 187 4 Felicity James LSAC 12.76
4 16 2 Nicole Martin LSAC 13.37
100m Men Race A Wind: -0.5 M/S
1 85 6 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 10.80
2 92 5 Luke Giblin LSAC 10.80
3 169 4 Matthew Thomas Newham & Essex 11.00
4 29 3 Luke Evans LSAC 11.00
5 30 7 Josh Baxter LSAC 11.00
6 285 1 Yusuf Aliu LSAC 11.20
7 151 2 Marcel Hodge (U20) LSAC 11.30
100m Men Race B Wind: -0.5 M/S
1 31 5 Sean Vernon LSAC 11.09
2 184 6 Ben Kiely LSAC 11.15
3 28 4 Luke Stott LSAC 11.18
4 176 7 Matt Quine City of Sheffield 11.21
100m Men Race C Wind: -0.3 M/S
1 185 3 Tom Miller LSAC 11.29
2 147 5 Martin Ogun-Sanya LSAC 11.47
3 179 2 Max Hall LSAC 11.49
4 175 4 Dwight Fenton Coventry 11.58
5 88 7 Nigi-Isaac Jegede LSAC 11.79
6 86 6 Fraser Young LSAC 11.88
400m Men Race A
1 80 6 Ben Higgins LSAC 48.37
2 110 5 Phil Norfolk LSAC 48.61
3 170 7 Joshua Street (U17) South London Harriers 48.84
4 176 4 Matt Quine City of Sheffield 49.27
5 95 2 Nick Little LSAC 50.36
400m Men Race B
1 94 4 Richard Kilty Gateshead 48.64
2 38 5 Danny Cash LSAC 48.91
3 149 2 Matt Threadgold LSAC 49.12
4 166 3 Stefan Richards Epson & Ewall 49.48
5 49 6 Andrei Pobischan LSAC 49.55
6 250 7 Mark Fletcher UWIC 49.62
7 288 1 Markus Hunt LSAC 50.05
8 47 8 Conor McLaughlin LSAC 50.25
400m Men Race C
1 44 6 Michael Holden LSAC 50.63
2 46 5 Phil McManus LSAC 50.91
3 186 3 john Ewbank LSAC 50.94
4 111 2 Oli Blake LSAC 51.06
400m Men Race D
1 177 6 Stephen Garrett City of Sheffield 49.96
2 40 2 James Eccles LSAC 51.89
3 164 5 Thomas Meakin OWLS 53.57
4 45 4 Simon Boskovic LSAC 53.82
5 98 3 Paddy Radley (U20) OWLS 55.44
6 48 7 James Watt LSAC 56.28
100m Hurdles UKA U18 Women Wind: -0.4 M/S
1 248 6 Georgia Atkins UKA 14.40
2 198 4 Megan Rogers UKA 14.63
3 249 5 Rayne Allman UKA 14.94
100m Hurdles Women Wind: -0.3 M/S
1 178 7 Lauren Dewdney LSAC 14.09
2 78 6 Andrea Vinet LSAC 14.16
3 120 5 Rebecca Liddell Gateshead 14.22
4 25 8 Chloe Whalley LSAC 15.13
5 96 4 Jenny Heckford LSAC 15.27
6 282 2 Tony Wells (M60) Corby AC 15.80
110m Hurdles UKA U18 Wind: +1.4 M/S
1 195 4 James Gladman UKA 13.98
2 194 5 Themba Luhana UKA 14.03
3 193 6 Jake Porter UKA 14.82
4 184 3 Jack Edgar-Hill UKA 14.96
DNS 196 8 James Taylor UKA
110m Hurdles Men Wind: -1.0 M/S
1 173 6 Richard Reeks Crawley 14.35
2 134 5 David Feeney LSAC 14.54
3 73 4 Ollie Knight LSAC 16.50
3000m
1 159 7 Frank Baddick LSAC 8:20.8
2 13 6 Andrew Heyes Hallamshire Harriers 8:21.2
3 161 4 Rob Whittle LSAC 8:22.1
4 143 3 Josh Lilley Severn AC 8:22.7
5 171 2 Paul Miles OWLS 8:24.1
6 138 12 Paul Whitlam TVH 8:31.3
7 84 13 Sam Stabler (U20) OWLS 8:31.8
8 160 1 Chris Warburton LSAC 8:34.3
9 158 8 Tim Dalton LSAC 8:36.4
10 156 23 Alex Wall-Clarke LSAC 8:42.0
11 167 11 Tom Gayle LSAC 8:42.7
12 157 9 James Poole LSAC 8:45.4
13 65 17 James Fairbourn LSAC 8:46.2
14 66 14 Chris Perry LSAC 8:49.7
15 69 20 Seb Foy LSAC 8:50.2
16 74 21 Alastair Watson Hermitage Harriers 8:53.2
17 162 19 Ed Highton OWLS 8:55.8
18 172 18 Daniel Hallum (U20) OWLS 8:59.5
19 68 16 Jamie Knapp LSAC 9:16.6
20 155 5 Ed Womersley LSAC 9:18.8
21 93 26 Kate Spilsbury LSAC 11:17.0
200m Women Race A Wind: +1.8 M/S
1 142 6 Nadine Okyere Birchfield 24.80
2 136 5 Hannah Thomas (U20) Wrexham 25.59
3 187 4 Felicity James LSAC 26.03
4 27 3 Katie James LSAC 27.97
200m Men Race A Wind: +1.7 M/S
1 85 5 Chris Craig Sale Harriers 21.70
2 174 3 Luke Lennon-Ford Birchfield 21.93
3 29 4 Luke Evans LSAC 22.14
4 139 6 Dwayne Lewis Birchfield 22.25
5 144 8 Shem Nelson Birchfield 22.63
200m Men Race B Wind: +0.1 M/S
1 92 5 Luke Giblin LSAC 22.09
2 38 4 Dan Cash LSAC 22.46
3 134 7 David Feeney LSAC 22.55
4 30 6 Josh Baxter LSAC 22.83
5 180 3 Patrick Palmer Birchfield 22.97
6 31 8 Sean Vernon LSAC 23.22
7 285 1 Yusuf Aliu LSAC 23.47
200m Men Race C Wind: +0.1 M/S
1 185 4 Tom Miller LSAC 22.49
2 183 8 Nathan Crockett Birchfield 22.73
3 151 3 Marcel Hodge (U20) LSAC 22.87
4 184 6 Ben Kiely LSAC 22.93
5 49 7 Andrei Pobischan LSAC 23.18
6 175 2 Dwight Fenton Coventry 23.84
7 45 1 Simon Boskovic LSAC 24.14
1500m Women
1 292 5 Jordan Kinney LSAC 4:29.65
2 11 4 Julia Russell Hallamshire Harriers 4:32.80
3 153 6 Melanie Wood (U17) Marshall Milton Keynes 4:34.83
4 23 2 Jess Burns LSAC 4:44.74
5 165 3 Francesca Meakin Sutton in Ashfield 4:53.91
1500m Men
1 150 9 Ben Green LSAC 3:54.43
2 61 5 Andrew Mariani LSAC 3:57.17
3 154 3 Rob Hodges LSAC 3:58.81
4 273 4 Mike Kershaw UWIC 4:01.09
5 181 6 Stephan Mears LSAC 4:06.94
Track
Mens Hammer
1 4 Shorthouse Chris Notts AC 62.35m
2 6 Bloomfield Joe LSAC 60.76m
3 5 Pearson John LSAC 59.27m
4 2 Hyland Luke LSAC 46.45m
5 3 Windley Andy LSAC 43.22m
6 1 Reece Bradley LSAC 42.50m
Womens Long Jump
1 372 Yates Rhianon UWIC 5.71m 1.4m/s
2 350 Carr Melissa LSAC 5.58m 1.4m/s
3 367 Hall Rebecca Grantham 5.06m 1.2m/s
4 27 James Katie LSAC 5.02m 1.9m/s
Mens Long Jump
1 283 Twumasi Ricardo LSAC 6.96m 1.4m/s
2 356 Lyashenko Spartak LSAC 6.61m 1.0m/s
3 173 Reeks Richard Crawley 6.57m 1.3m/s
Womens Javelin
1 352 Semenytsh Rosie LSAC 46.67m
2 345 Williams Claire Swansea Harriers 41.73m
3 342 Thomas Sophie LSAC 40.98m
4 348 Priestley (U17) Zoe Pembrokeshire H 33.62m
Mens Javelin
1 7 Allen Mike LSAC 68.44m
2 179 Hall Max LSAC 58.81m
3 8 Lundman Jon LSAC 57.21m
4 284 George Sam LSAC 52.83m
5 43 Gregory Ben LSAC 50.18m
6 134 Feeney David LSAC 45.65m
7 173 Reeks Richard Crawley 45.17m
1 10 Stocks (U20) Charlie Charnwood 49.45m
2 343 Rubery (U20) Adam Charnwood 34.95m
Womens High Jump
1 287 Tappin Jess LSAC 1.60m
2 286 Lowry Emma LSAC 1.60m
Mens High Jump
1 179 Hall Max LSAC 1.80m
Womens Discus
1 365 Law Kirsty Shaftsbury Barnett 45.29m
2 368 Moore (U20) Jade Birchfield 38.91m
3 335 Davies Rebecca LSAC 28.69m
4 363 Griffiths (U17) Lucy Pembrokeshire H 28.55m
Mens Discus
1 6 Bloomfield Joe LSAC 44.84m
2 369 Sheuermann Nick UWIC 43.12m
3 362 Hemery Adrian LSAC 39.66m
4 9 Tarrant John LSAC 39.32m
5 43 Gregory Ben LSAC 36.85m
6 351 Twiddle (M40) John KuHAC 35.74m
7 179 Hall Max LSAC 34.91m
8 364 Tan Yong LSAC 31.38m
1 353 Watson (U20) Steve WSE & H 50.26m
2 343 Rubery (U20) Adam Charnwood 22.20m
Womens Shot
1 140 McKinna (U17) Sophie Gt Yarmouth 13.58m
2 357 Rose Charlotte LSAC 11.80m
3 342 Thomas Sophie LSAC 11.67m
4 367 Hall Rebecca Grantham 11.12m
5 363 Griffiths (U17) Lucy Pembrokeshire H 10.44m
6 286 Lowry Emma LSAC 10.27m
7 287 Tappin Jess LSAC 9.52m
8 335 Davies Rebecca LSAC 9.11m
Mens Shot
1 359 Sturrock Craig Gateshead 16.02m
2 358 Brunt Daniel City of Sheffield 14.83m
3 290 Mohan Robert LSAC 14.70m
4 43 Gregory Ben LSAC 12.49m
5 362 Hemery Adrian LSAC 12.37m
6 351 Twiddle (M40) John KuHAC 12.05m
7 44 Holden Michael LSAC 12.04m
8 179 Hall Max LSAC 11.88m
9 364 Tan Yong LSAC 11.01m
1 343 Rubery (U20) Adam Charnwood 9.63m
1 289 Newman (U17) Josh Birchfield 14.41m
2 360 Crutchley (F38) Martin Cannock & Stafford 11.39m

Sunday 25th April 2010

ON the streets of the capital David Cox representing the Loughborough Students in the 2010 BUCS Marathon Championships clocked a time of 3hrs 10mins 54secs to finish in 1,954th place overall at the Virgin London Marathon.

Imperial College Cambridge student Alex Milne (Enfield & Haringey) claimed the men’s BUCS title with a time of 2:39.26.

Wednesday 21st April 2010

THE biggest news story of the year has unfolded over the past six-days with the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud affecting air travel throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and across the world, bringing chaos for many people stranded abroad or trying to fly out of the Great Britain with aircraft grounded, however, for a group of hardy and determined Loughborough athletes nothing was going to stand in their way ahead of their spell of warm weather training in the running Mecca of Font Romeu.

With all flights to the continent cancelled British U23 international Ryan McLeod and fellow Loughborough athlete Lewis Moses combined with Jonny Mellor and Matthew Bowser took the decision to take an epic ‘Top Gear’ style road trip driving the 940 miles from the East Midlands to the French Pyrenees via an 18 hour car journey and ferry crossing from Dover.

They left Loughborough at 6.00am to meet fellow athletes, Jonny Thewlis, Bruce Raeside, Ricky Challinor and Joe Towsend at the Leicester Forest Services on the M1 then the two cars travelled south to Dover for the 9.55am ferry crossing arriving in France at 12:25pm (1hr ahead).

From Calais the two car convoy faced a further 800-mile journey across France via Paris and Toulouse finally arriving in Font Romeu at 1.20am where the group have joined up with a large contingent of GB athletes already based in the French resort before the air travel ban including world 1500 silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey, Ricky Soos and Becky Lyne.

Meanwhile, Bill Foster’s warm-weather training group from Loughborough are currently stranded in Portugal hoping to fly home later this week.

Article by Mark Woolley.

Tuesday 20th April 2010

THE elements and mother nature combined to play their part with great affect on the weekend’s athletics action in the United Kingdom and across Europe, providing major travel problems for all competitors in a wide range of sports.

The volcanic ash descending from Iceland over northern Europe and the British Isles resulted in all flights being cancelled in and out of UK air space, therefore, current student Emily Pidgeon and world U23 triathlon champion Hollie Avil, plus graduate Katie Ingram were unable to travel over to Dublin for the SPAR Great Ireland 10km race on Sunday (18 April).

Several athletes were also stranded in Portugal unable to fly home after a stint of warm weather training ahead of the 2010 Nike National 12 & 6 Stage Road Relays at Birmingham’s Sutton Park (17 April).

A large contingent of Loughborough University athletes past and present were in early outdoor season action at the Mt.SAC Relays and the Bryan Clay Invitational (15-18 April) as part of their warm weather training stint in Southern California having already traveled out a few weeks ago.

Martyn Rooney opened his season with a confident performance finishing second in the men’s Invitational 400m at the 52nd Annual Mt.SAC Relays on the track of the Hilmer Lodge Stadium, the Beijing Olympic finalist clocked a time of 45.85secs as American Joey Hughes edged ahead over the final metres claiming victory in 45.37, compatriot Donald Sanford was third in 46.16.

World junior bronze medallist Meghan Beesley was in sparkling form winning the Invitational 400m hurdles, the 20-year-old Loughborough student despite hitting the last barrier crossed the line in a time of 56.97secs ahead of Japan’s Satomi Kubokura (57.27).

Graduate Vicki Barr finished 6th over the women’s flat 400m in 53.36 as American Lashinda Demus, the world 400m hurdles silver medallist, set the year’s best time with 51.40, whilst, Justine Kinney was runner-up in the Olympic Development 400m hurdles event in 58.53.

Reigning British Universities 2,000m steeplechase champion Ruth Senior (Norwich) now running for the University of New Mexico ran a 4mins 26.24secs clocking in the 1500m breaking her lifetime best of 4:28.96 to finish third – graduate Ashley Gibson (Elswick) finished 11th in her heat in 4:25.56.

Over the mile former British 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Barbara Parker (Norwich) finished in sixth place with a time of 4:34.22.

Ireland’s Ava Hutchinson (Cardiff) finished 23rd in the women’s 10,000m Invitational with a mark of 16:22.76. Alex Haines (Cardiff) clocked 29:48.45 to secure 19th in the men’s event.

Butler University student Joe MacDonald (Trafford) finished 28th over 5,000m in 13:52.07.

At the Azusa Pacific University’s Cougar Athletic Stadium Ireland’s two-time European indoor 400m champion David Gillick dropped down in distance to claim two fine victories in the heats of the 100m and 200m at the Bryan Clay Invitational with times of 10.71 (1.1) and 21.20 seconds respectively.

Back home Emily Pidgeon, having given up all hopes of traveling to Dublin for the SPAR Great Ireland Run due to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that has disrupted airspace across Europe, combined with world U23 triathlon champion Hollie Avil to make a quick switch for the 40-mile car journey from Loughborough to the steel city for the Sheffield Lord Mayors 10km (18 April).

Over the undulating course surrounding and finishing on the track of the Don Valley Stadium, Pidgeon, the 20-year-old Loughborough University student from the Stroud & District club claimed a fine victory clocking a lifetime best of 32mins 22secs improving on her previous mark of set in 2007 at Bourton-on-the-Water topping the 10km road rankings on the Power of Ten list.

Hollie Avil (Rugby & Northampton) on her debut over the 10k distance and in her first race of the year following warm weather training camps with the British triathlon squad in South Africa and Spain finished runner-up in 34:29, 10th overall.

Fellow Loughborough-based GB triathlete Will Clarke (Cambridge & Colleridge), winner of the race in 2008, replicated that performance as the British international secured a twenty-one second victory ahead of Andy Ward (Clowne Roadrunners) with a time of 31:10.

Luke Watson finished second over 5,000m with a time of 15:56 at the latest round of the Derby Mid-Week Training Races (14 April) with fellow Loughborough athletes Josh Cardwell (16:21) third and reigning world, European and Commonwealth swimming champion James Gibson fourth (16:25). Peter Swaine (Charnwood) won with 15:50.

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY CHOSEN AS HEADQUARTERS FOR TEAM GB’S 2012 OLYMPIC PREPARATION

The British Olympic Association (BOA) revealed fresh plans for Team GB’s pre-Games preparations ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The BOA have created a new partnership with Loughborough University which will act as the central focal point of an innovative network of facilities serving the 26 Olympic sports for the 2012 Games.

The new plans are the result of a strategic review by the BOA, carried out with the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Olympic sports. The study considered the unique nature of being the host nation Olympic team and offered challenges to the established preparation camp model.

The structure is based on one main camp, the “Headquarters”, based at Loughborough, supported by a series of “Satellite” camps, both in the UK and overseas. In the months immediately preceding the 2012 Games, the BOA will base some of its support services at Loughborough, including Team GB’s kitting out operations.

The individual NGBs are in the process of finalising their plans for pre-Games preparations and it is anticipated that a number will use the excellent facilities at Loughborough for their pre-Games preparations.

It is intended that all members of Team GB will pass through Loughborough University for the official kitting out process. This will provide the essential opportunity to bring together the hundreds of athletes and officials into one collective unit and mentally prepare the whole of Team GB for competition at the largest scale multi-sports environment in the world.

As part of the process, the BOA has conducted an extended review of potential partners, including Aldershot - a partnership between Rushmoor Borough Council, the Army and Aspire Defence – and the University of Bath. It is anticipated they, alongside many other outstanding sporting facilities in the UK, will play a key role as satellite partners.


BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt said: “Our number one priority is to ensure that Team GB athletes have the best possible preparation environment immediately before the Games in 2012.

“We are delighted that Loughborough University will partner the BOA as Team GB’s preparation HQ. We’re confident Loughborough’s excellence in the field of sport will be of huge benefit to Team GB’s aspiration of securing fourth place in the London 2012 medal table.

“As host nation, we face unique opportunities and challenges. We’ve worked with our sports to review the best way to help them prepare for the Games, and it’s clear that different sports need different facilities provided at a variety of different locations. So that is what we are focused on delivering.

“We are grateful to both the Aldershot Partnership and the University of Bath for their continued commitment to partnering with the BOA and Team GB as we prepare for London 2012.”


Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “We are delighted that Loughborough University has been selected as the headquarters of Team GB’s preparation camp.

“The University has been the base for the preparation of around 170 British Olympians over the past 30 years, and many of the country’s 2012 contenders are already using our state-of-the-art facilities. Today’s announcement is confirmation that Loughborough offers the best possible Olympic preparation environment for many of Team GB’s sports.”


As well as the BOA, Loughborough University will also host the Japanese Olympic team in the weeks prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. The co-location of two major teams will create a unique environment, with Loughborough likely to have the highest concentration of Olympic activity outside the capital.

A partnership agreement, signed with the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) in June last year, has already seen the two organisations working closely together on academic research and teaching activity. Japan’s Olympic sports teams will also be using the University’s world-class facilities for training camps and final preparations before competitions in Europe from now until 2012.

Written and complied by Mark Woolley.

Sunday 18th April 2010

EMILY Pidgeon, having given up all hopes of traveling to Dublin for the SPAR Great Ireland Run due to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud that has disrupted airspace across Europe, combined with GB triathletes Hollie Avil and Will Clarke to make a quick switch for the 40-mile car journey from Loughborough to the steel city for the Sheffield Lord Mayors 10km.

Over the undulating course surrounding and finishing on the track of the Don Valley Stadium, Pidgeon, the 20-year-old Loughborough University student from the Stroud & District club claimed a fine victory clocking a superb lifetime best of 32mins 22secs improving on her previous mark of 33:37 set in 2007 in the Bourton-on-the-Water topping the 10km road rankings on the Power of Ten list.

World U23 champion Hollie Avil (Rugby & Northampton) on her debut over the 10k distance and in her first race of the year following warm weather training camps with the British triathlon squad in South Africa and Spain finished runner-up in 34:29, 10th overall.

Fellow Loughborough-based Will Clarke (Cambridge & Colleridge), also due to race in Dublin, the winner of the event in 2008, replicated that performance as the 25-year-old British international secured a twenty-one second victory ahead of Andy Ward (Clowne Roadrunners) with a time of 31:10.

The Leicester OWLS duo of Paul Miles and Danny Hallam filled the next two positions with times of 30:40 and 30:52 respectively.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.handsworthroadhogs.co.uk/sheff10k2010result.htm

Saturday 17th April 2010

MARTYN ROONEY opened his outdoor season with a confident performance finishing second in the men’s Invitational 400m at the Mt.SAC Relays in Walnut, California, the Beijing Olympic finalist clocked a time of 45.85secs as American Joey Hughes edged ahead over the final metres to claim victory in 45.37, compatriot Donald Sanford was third in 46.16.

World junior bronze medallist Meghan Beesley was in sparkling form winning the Invitational 400m hurdles as the 20-year-old Loughborough student despite hitting the last barrier crossed the line in a time of 56.97secs ahead of Japan’s Satomi Kubokura (57.27).

Graduate Vicki Barr finished 6th over the women’s flat 400m in 53.36 as American Lashinda Demus, the world 400m hurdles silver medallist, set the year’s best with 51.40, whilst, Justine Kinney was runner-up in the Olympic Development 400m hurdles event in 58.53.

Saturday 17th April 2010

A large contingent of Loughborough University athletes past and present are in early outdoor season action at the Mt.SAC Relays and the Bryan Clay Invitational as part of their warm weather training stint in Southern California.

At the Azusa Pacific University’s Cougar Athletic Stadium Ireland’s two-time European indoor 400m champion David Gillick dropped down in distance to claim two fine victories in the heats of the 100m and 200m at the Bryan Clay Invitational with times of 10.71 (1.1) and 21.20 seconds respectively.

Reigning British Universities 2,000m steeplechase champion Ruth Senior (Norwich) now running for the University of New Mexico ran a 4mins 26.24secs clocking in the 1500m breaking her lifetime best of 4:28.96 to finish third at the 52nd Annual Mt.SAC Relays on the track of the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut - Ashley Gibson (Elswick) finished 11th in her heat in 4:25.56.

Over the mile former British 3,000m steeplechase record-holder Barbara Parker (Norwich) finished in sixth place with a time of 4:34.22.

Ireland’s Ava Hutchinson (Cardiff) finished 23rd in the women’s 10,000m Invitational with a mark of 16:22.76. Alex Haines (Cardiff) clocked 29:48.45 to secure 19th in the men’s event.

Butler University student Joe MacDonald (Trafford) finished 28th over 5,000m in 13:52.07.

Wednesday 14th April 2010

THE British Olympic Association (BOA) today revealed fresh plans for Team GB’s pre-Games preparations ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The BOA have created a new partnership with Loughborough University which will act as the central focal point of an innovative network of facilities serving the 26 Olympic sports for the 2012 Games.

The new plans are the result of a strategic review by the BOA, carried out with the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Olympic sports. The study considered the unique nature of being the host nation Olympic team and offered challenges to the established preparation camp model.

The structure is based on one main camp, the “Headquarters”, based at Loughborough, supported by a series of “Satellite” camps, both in the UK and overseas. In the months immediately preceding the 2012 Games, the BOA will base some of its support services at Loughborough, including Team GB’s kitting out operations.

The individual NGBs are in the process of finalising their plans for pre-Games preparations and it is anticipated that a number will use the excellent facilities at Loughborough for their pre-Games preparations.

It is intended that all members of Team GB will pass through Loughborough University for the official kitting out process. This will provide the essential opportunity to bring together the hundreds of athletes and officials into one collective unit and mentally prepare the whole of Team GB for competition at the largest scale multi-sports environment in the world.

As part of the process, the BOA has conducted an extended review of potential partners, including Aldershot - a partnership between Rushmoor Borough Council, the Army and Aspire Defence – and the University of Bath. It is anticipated they, alongside many other outstanding sporting facilities in the UK, will play a key role as satellite partners.
BOA Chief Executive Andy Hunt said:

“Our number one priority is to ensure that Team GB athletes have the best possible preparation environment immediately before the Games in 2012.

“We are delighted that Loughborough University will partner the BOA as Team GB’s preparation HQ. We’re confident Loughborough’s excellence in the field of sport will be of huge benefit to Team GB’s aspiration of securing fourth place in the London 2012 medal table.

“As host nation, we face unique opportunities and challenges. We’ve worked with our sports to review the best way to help them prepare for the Games, and it’s clear that different sports need different facilities provided at a variety of different locations. So that is what we are focused on delivering.

“We are grateful to both the Aldershot Partnership and the University of Bath for their continued commitment to partnering with the BOA and Team GB as we prepare for London 2012.”
Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University, said:

“We are delighted that Loughborough University has been selected as the headquarters of Team GB’s preparation camp.

“The University has been the base for the preparation of around 170 British Olympians over the past 30 years, and many of the country’s 2012 contenders are already using our state-of-the-art facilities. Today’s announcement is confirmation that Loughborough offers the best possible Olympic preparation environment for many of Team GB’s sports.”
Charnwood Borough Council Interim Chief Executive Geoff Parker said:

“To host two major teams in the build-up to the world’s largest multi-sports event is fantastic news, not only for the University, but for the town of Loughborough and the East Midlands as a whole.

“The increase in visitors to the area, including the large media core that accompanies the squads, will bring huge economic benefits to the town and the region. We are working with our partners to ensure that staff, students and the local community are able to capitalise on the benefits that having these teams at Loughborough will bring.”

As well as the BOA, Loughborough University will also host the Japanese Olympic team in the weeks prior to the 2012 Olympic Games. The co-location of two major teams will create a unique environment, with Loughborough likely to have the highest concentration of Olympic activity outside the capital.

A partnership agreement, signed with the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) in June last year, has already seen the two organisations working closely together on academic research and teaching activity. Japan’s Olympic sports teams will also be using the University’s world-class facilities for training camps and final preparations before competitions in Europe from now until 2012.

Thursday 15th April 2010

EMILY Pidgeon and world U23 triathlon champion Hollie Avil are two of the top Loughborough-based athletes that hope to make the start line for the SPAR Great Ireland 10km Run that takes place this Sunday (18th April).

However, over the past 24 hours all air traffic in the United Kingdom has been suspended due to ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moving south across the continent which could result in athletes from around Europe being unable to travel to the Irish capital.

The Elite field in Dublin will be led by European Cross Country Champion Hayley Yelling, World Championships Marathon bronze medallist, Viktor Rothlin and Irish record holder Martin Fagan.

Nearly 10,500 people have now signed up for Ireland’s largest mixed 10k Run which takes place in Phoenix Park.

This year marks the eighth running of the SPAR Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park, Dublin which is organised in association with Dublin City Harriers Athletic Club, continuing the club's tradition dating back over 50 years of holding major road races in the Park.

The elite female participants in the Run will be led by European Cross Country Champion, Hayley Yelling from Britain, former World Cross Country Champion, Benita Willis of Australia and last year’s third place finisher, Jelena Prokupcuka from Latvia. Irish star Mary Cullen has been forced to withdraw from the Run due to injury but a strong Irish challenge will be headed by Deirdre Byrne, Pauline Curley and national marathon champion Annette Kealy.

The men’s field will be led by Swiss World Championship bronze medallist, Viktor Rothlin, Luis Feitera of Portugal and Ireland’s half-marathon record holder, Martin Fagan. National cross-country champion Mark Kenneally will also challenge strongly alongside most of Ireland’s top distance runners. The Run incorporate the Irish 10k road championships under the auspices of Athletics Ireland. To incentivise elite Irish athletes and raise the standard of 10k running in the country, a cash prize fund is in place for the first ten Irish men and women.

Tuesday 13th April 2010

TRANSATLANTIC would describe the highlights of the weekend for the Loughborough athletes in competition this weekend where all the top performances by the African Violets were produced in North America beginning in Canada on the shores of Lake Ontario as the Great Britain women’s squad claimed an excellent team gold at the 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships (11 April).

In perfect conditions under a bright blue skies Jessica Sparke (St Mary’s) 16:41.9 led the way for Team GB over the 5km course finishing runner-up overall to Portugal’s Sara Moreira (16:29) with Joanne Harvey (St Mary’s) third 16:48.7 securing bronze combining with the Loughborough duo of Natalie Gray, eighth 17:12.4 and Kirsty Milner, 16th 17:27.6 to win the title ahead of Australia.

The GB men’s team finished in a fine third podium place in the 10km event with Jonathan Pepper (Birmingham) in 10th place 30:53.1, Ben Lindsay (St Mary’s) 17th 31:20.4, Mitch Goose (St Mary’s) 21st 31:25.0, Derek Hawkins (Glasgow) 23rd 31:28.9 and Jonathan Thewlis (Nottingham) 36th 32:22.6. The highly impressive Tetsuya Yoroizaka claimed the individual and team title for Japan.

In America on the NCAA circuit 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 (10 April).

In fine 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).

World record-holder Meseret Defar of Ethiopia became the first three-time women’s champion of the Carlsbad 5000 (11 April) in California winning the women’s elite invitational in a time of 15mins, 04secs as former Loughborough College student Barbara Parker finished in sixth place in a time of 16:14 to collect $700 in prize money.

At the UCLA Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational meeting in Los Angeles (10 April), double European indoor 400m champion David Gillick competing over 200m at the Drake Stadium finished in third place clocking 21.45secs. World junior bronze medallist Meghan Beesley finished in fourth place in her round of the 200m clocking 23.87 (0.3) Beesley also finished in third place in the 400m in a lifetime best of 52.91 with Ireland’s Michelle Carey fifth in 54.47.

KEMEL THOMPSON - LIFE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE OF FLORIDA

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.

BABY JOY FOR RADCLIFFE

One of Loughborough University’s finest graduates, world marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe, has revealed she is expecting a second child in September.

The 36-year-old athletics superstar said that she and husband Gary Lough wanted a second baby in 2010 to give her time to return to action in time for the London 2012 Olympics.

"We're very pleased. We are very lucky that everything so far has worked out as we had hoped," said Radcliffe.

"As always when nature is involved it's hard to plan, but the idea was we could get pregnant this year and have 2011 to comfortably come back to racing."

She gave birth to her first child, daughter Isla, in January 2007. Radcliffe returned to training within two weeks of her 27-hour labour, but plans a more leisurely approach with her second child.

"I plan to run through as before but to come back a bit slower than last time when I was back a bit too quickly," she said. "The 2012 Olympics is the big goal and we think this works out perfectly for that."

Radcliffe, who has not competed since finishing fourth in last November's New York marathon, has remained in full-time training and recently returned from a camp in Portland, Oregon.

Written and complied by Mark Woolley.

Sunday 11th April 2010

GREAT Britain’s women’s team have won the team title at the 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

In perfect conditions under a bright blue sky Jessica Sparke (St Mary’s) led the way over the 5km course set on shores of Lake Ontario finishing runner-up overall to Portugal’s Sara Moreira as the GB team of bronze medallist Joanne Harvey (St Mary’s) combined with the Loughborough duo of Natalie Gray and Kirsty Milner claimed the title ahead of Australia.
Full Results (Women's 5km):
1 16:29.3 1:39 38 MOREIRA, SARA POR 3:46 4:09 4:09 4:27
2 16:41.9 1:41 26 SPARKE, JESS GBR 3:52 4:10 4:14 4:28
3 16:48.7 1:41 24 HARVEY, JOANNE GBR 3:52 4:13 4:15 4:30
4 16:55.6 1:42 33 TAKENAKA, RISA JPN 3:51 4:15 4:20 4:30
5 17:09.1 1:43 14 BROWN, MEGAN CAN 3:56 4:18 4:25 4:32
6 17:11.8 1:44 43 RODRIGUEZ SIERRA, LIDIA ESP 3:55 4:19 4:29 4:31
7 17:11.9 1:44 10 VERNON, MELINDA AUS 3:52 4:17 4:27 4:37
8 17:12.4 1:44 23 GRAY, NATALIE GBR 3:54 4:19 4:26 4:35
9 17:16.0 1:44 8 STEWART, ELIZA AUS 3:57 4:21 4:27 4:33
10 17:16.2 1:44 9 TRENGOVE, JESSICA AUS 3:58 4:20 4:26 4:34
11 17:20.0 1:44 15 CARSON, LINDSAY CAN 3:56 4:21 4:29 4:36
12 17:21.2 1:45 40 ROCHA, CARLA SALOME POR 3:54 4:24 4:28 4:36
13 17:21.9 1:45 34 TANAKA, HANAE JPN 3:56 4:20 4:27 4:41
14 17:26.4 1:45 44 SILVERSTRE SORIANO, MARTA ESP 4:00 4:24 4:27 4:36
15 17:26.5 1:45 21 JANSSEN, SASKIA GER 3:55 4:23 4:30 4:41
16 17:27.6 1:45 25 MILNER, KIRSTY GBR 3:56 4:24 4:31 4:38
17 17:32.1 1:46 17 PEARO, JESSICA CAN 3:58 4:25 4:29 4:43
18 17:33.7 1:46 27 COSTANZA, VALENTINA ITA 3:56 4:23 4:34 4:42
19 17:36.1 1:46 32 OTAGIRI, AKI JPN 4:02 4:27 4:31 4:37
20 17:37.2 1:46 20 HAHNER, ANNA GER 3:57 4:25 4:30 4:47
21 17:39.2 1:46 39 RIBEIRO, SARA CATARINA POR 3:59 4:28 4:34 4:41
22 17:41.1 1:47 29 FACCIANI, MARTINA ITA 4:01 4:28 4:30 4:44
23 17:43.4 1:47 28 EPIS, GIOVANNA ITA 4:03 4:27 4:31 4:44
24 17:46.1 1:47 31 NOMURA, SAYO JPN 3:57 4:26 4:37 4:49
25 17:48.9 1:47 36 COSTA, FILOMENA POR 3:59 4:28 4:33 4:51
26 17:48.9 1:47 3 BETTICHE, AMINA ALG 3:52 4:30 4:37 4:52
27 17:59.4 1:48 22 POHL, VERONICA GER 3:57 4:27 4:43 4:54
28 18:04.9 1:49 13 BELANGER, VALERIE CAN 4:04 4:30 4:37 4:55
29 18:14.8 1:50 41 GOMEZ MARTIN, RAQUEL ESP 4:03 4:38 4:41 4:55
30 18:20.5 1:51 37 FERNANDES, SONIA POR 4:03 4:35 4:46 4:58
31 18:25.2 1:51 42 JORDAN ORDIALES, CRISTINA ESP 3:58 4:39 4:52 4:58
32 18:32.3 1:52 19 BIENSTEIN, HEIKE GER 4:01 4:39 4:53 5:01
33 18:36.8 1:52 2 BELMILOUD, ABADIA ALG 3:58 4:37 4:55 5:09
34 18:48.4 1:53 11 EBERHART, TANJA AUT 4:10 4:48 4:49 5:03
35 18:57.8 1:54 18 SOFOKLEOUS, MARILENA CYP 4:17 4:46 4:53 5:04
36 19:18.2 1:56 1 AIT ATMANE, SIHEM ALG 4:07 4:52 5:04 5:16
37 19:29.7 1:57 7 GRIFFITH, CARLY AUS 4:12 4:53 5:05 5:21
38 19:41.1 1:59 5 HAMIANE, LYNDA ALG 4:18 5:04 5:02 5:19
39 19:45.0 1:59 12 REINGRUBER, RENATE AUT 4:10 5:10 5:14 5:13
40 19:46.6 1:59 4 BOURAKSSAS, HADDA ALG 4:11 5:04 5:09 5:24
41 20:12.2 2:02 6 DONKER, EMILY AUS 4:13 5:02 5:22 5:38
42 35 O'DONNELL, LYDIA NZL 3:56 4:51 5:07
Team:
1. 13 GBR (16:54.4 50:43.0)
1 2 SPARKE JESS 16:41.9
2 3 HARVEY JOANNE 16:48.7
3 8 GRAY NATALIE 17:12.4
4 ( 16) MILNER KIRSTY 17:27.6
2. 26 AUS (17:14.7 51:44.1)
1 7 VERNON MELINDA 17:11.9
2 9 STEWART ELIZA 17:16.0
3 10 TRENGOVE JESSICA 17:16.2
4 ( 37) GRIFFITH CARLY 19:29.7
5 ( 41) DONKER EMILY 20:12.2
3. 33 CAN (17:20.4 52:01.2)
1 5 BROWN MEGAN 17:09.1
2 11 CARSON LINDSAY 17:20.0
3 17 PEARO JESSICA 17:32.1
4 ( 28) BELANGER VALERIE 18:04.9
4. 34 POR (17:09.9 51:29.7)
1 1 MOREIRA SARA 16:29.3
2 12 ROCHA CARLA SALOME 17:21.2
3 21 RIBEIRO SARA CATARINA 17:39.2
4 ( 25) COSTA FILOMENA 17:48.9
5 ( 30) FERNANDES SONIA 18:20.5
5. 36 JPN (17:17.9 51:53.6)
1 4 TAKENAKA RISA 16:55.6
2 13 TANAKA HANAE 17:21.9
3 19 OTAGIRI AKI 17:36.1
4 ( 24) NOMURA SAYO 17:46.1
6. 49 ESP (17:37.7 52:53.0)
1 6 RODRIGUEZ SIERRA LIDIA 17:11.8
2 14 SILVERSTRE SORIANO MARTA 17:26.4
3 29 GOMEZ MARTIN RAQUEL 18:14.8
4 ( 31) JORDAN ORDIALES CRISTINA 18:25.2
7. 62 GER (17:41.1 53:03.1)
1 15 JANSSEN SASKIA 17:26.5
2 20 HAHNER ANNA 17:37.2
3 27 POHL VERONICA 17:59.4
4 ( 32) BIENSTEIN HEIKE 18:32.3
8. 63 ITA (17:39.4 52:58.2)
1 18 COSTANZA VALENTINA 17:33.7
2 22 FACCIANI MARTINA 17:41.1
3 23 EPIS GIOVANNA 17:43.4
9. 95 ALG (18:34.7 55:43.9)
1 26 BETTICHE AMINA 17:48.9
2 33 BELMILOUD ABADIA 18:36.8
3 36 AIT ATMANE SIHEM 19:18.2
4 ( 38) HAMIANE LYNDA 19:41.1
5 ( 40) BOURAKSSAS HADDA 19:46.6

Full video highlights are available on the following link: www.ssncanada.ca/media/special_pages/x-country-Women-2010.html

Sunday 11th April 2010

TEAM GB secured a well-deserved podium place collecting a set of bronze medals at the 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Over the undulating 10km course the British team of Jon Pepper (Birmingham), Ben Lindsay (St Mary’s) Mitchell Goose (St Mary’s), Derek Hawkins (Glasgow) and Jonathon Thewlis (Nottingham) finished in third place overall as individual race winner Tetsuya Yoroizaka led the Japanese squad to the title ahead of second placed Spain.
Full Results (Men’s 10km):
1 30:08.4 3:01 145 YOROIZAKA, TETSUYA JPN 2:37 4:30 4:34 4:35 4:40 4:39 4:37
2 30:09.7 3:01 106 ADAMS, LIAM AUS 2:38 4:30 4:34 4:35 4:40 4:39 4:38
3 30:11.5 3:02 131 GLATTING, CHRISTIAN GER 2:40 4:28 4:34 4:35 4:40 4:40 4:38
4 30:18.0 3:02 153 GUERRA POLO, JAVIER ESP 2:38 4:30 4:33 4:35 4:40 4:38 4:47
5 30:35.9 3:04 152 ELBENDIR KATHARI, MOHAMED ESP 2:44 4:30 4:36 4:38 4:45 4:45 4:41
6 30:36.2 3:04 143 NOGUCHI, TAKUYA JPN 2:37 4:30 4:35 4:43 4:47 4:42 4:45
7 30:41.7 3:05 128 MALATY, BENJANIN FRA 2:41 4:28 4:37 4:42 4:45 4:44 4:49
8 30:46.9 3:05 129 MASCIOTRA, JULIEN FRA 2:41 4:29 4:36 4:42 4:45 4:46 4:51
9 30:51.3 3:06 154 LOZANO DE PEDRO, ALBERTO ESP 2:41 4:28 4:37 4:42 4:45 4:46 4:55
10 30:53.1 3:06 135 PEPPER, JONATHAN GBR 2:43 4:33 4:39 4:43 4:46 4:45 4:48
11 31:01.3 3:07 142 KAWAKAMI, RYOUHEI JPN 2:43 4:32 4:40 4:43 4:46 4:49 4:53
12 31:02.1 3:07 144 OISHI, MINATO JPN 2:41 4:33 4:42 4:42 4:46 4:47 4:54
13 31:04.9 3:07 151 ABADIA BECI, ANTONIO ESP 2:45 4:25 4:40 4:44 4:50 4:52 4:53
14 31:07.0 3:07 104 CHIBANI, AZZEDINE ALG 2:38 4:30 4:42 4:49 4:46 4:50 4:56
15 31:12.9 3:08 113 BOORSMA, ROBERT KYLE CAN 2:43 4:32 4:42 4:48 4:46 4:49 4:56
16 31:17.1 3:08 141 DEGUCHI, KAZUYA JPN 2:37 4:31 4:42 4:52 4:52 4:50 4:56
17 31:20.4 3:09 132 BEN, LINDSAY GBR 2:45 4:39 4:41 4:45 4:48 4:55 4:51
18 31:21.3 3:09 146 DAVIDSON, ANDREW NZL 2:45 4:31 4:39 4:44 4:50 4:56 5:00
19 31:22.9 3:09 150 SILVA, SERGIO POR 2:40 4:30 4:40 4:49 4:49 4:57 5:02
20 31:24.7 3:09 116 O'NEILL, KYLE CAN 2:44 4:35 4:43 4:51 4:53 4:50 4:52
21 31:25.0 3:09 133 GOOSE, MITCHELL GBR 2:44 4:32 4:40 4:46 4:49 4:55 5:03
22 31:25.8 3:09 107 ASHKETTLE, BENJAMIN AUS 2:45 4:34 4:43 4:51 4:52 4:52 4:52
23 31:28.9 3:09 134 HAWKINS, DEREK GBR 2:44 4:32 4:40 4:50 4:51 4:55 4:59
24 31:32.1 3:10 117 WESTON, DAVE CAN 2:43 4:31 4:46 4:52 4:53 4:53 4:56
25 31:39.9 3:10 114 BRETT, ALLAN CAN 2:44 4:37 4:44 4:49 4:51 4:53 5:04
26 31:41.5 3:11 155 LOZANO DE PEDRO, ALVARO ESP 2:44 4:31 4:41 4:49 4:57 4:59 5:03
27 31:43.3 3:11 115 BRUNSTING, MATTHEW CAN 2:44 4:37 4:48 4:52 4:50 4:58 4:57
28 31:52.9 3:12 108 HENNESSY, LUKE AUS 2:46 4:39 4:47 4:52 4:56 4:59 4:56
29 31:56.0 3:12 156 VILLAMOR CASTINEIRA, CARLOS ESP 2:44 4:36 4:47 4:51 4:56 5:01 5:03
30 31:58.3 3:12 102 BOUKANDOUL, ABDELHALIM ALG 2:39 4:36 4:48 4:57 5:01 5:00 5:01
31 32:02.0 3:13 126 DENISSEL, SIMON FRA 2:41 4:29 4:45 4:58 5:02 5:06 5:04
32 32:05.5 3:13 136 BONA, FRANCESCO ITA 2:40 4:39 4:51 4:54 4:57 5:03 5:05
33 32:14.7 3:14 137 CUGUSI, STEFANO ITA 2:46 4:39 4:51 4:58 4:58 5:04 5:03
34 32:15.5 3:14 121 SUN, JIAHUI CHN 2:47 4:38 4:48 4:52 5:09 5:05 5:00
35 32:18.3 3:14 148 LOPES, PAULO POR 2:44 4:35 4:50 4:54 4:58 5:07 5:13
36 32:22.6 3:15 177 THEWLIS, JONATHAN GBR 2:44 4:33 4:43 4:56 5:03 5:13 5:15
37 32:43.3 3:17 139 PASSERI, RICCARDO ITA 2:45 4:43 4:56 4:51 4:59 5:16 5:16
38 32:52.8 3:18 101 BECHAREF, BOUBAKER EL-SEDDIK ALG 2:44 4:40 4:59 5:02 5:02 5:13 5:16
39 32:57.8 3:18 130 THEOPHILE, FLORIAN FRA 2:42 4:36 4:54 5:10 5:08 5:25 5:05
40 32:59.0 3:18 149 PINHEIRO, PAULO POR 2:43 4:33 4:47 5:01 4:57 5:31 5:30
41 33:00.7 3:19 125 BELIGNET, GREGORY FRA 2:41 4:34 4:51 5:04 5:16 5:17 5:22
42 33:06.0 3:19 120 LI, XIANG CHN 2:51 4:55 5:02 5:07 5:06 5:06 5:01
43 33:07.2 3:19 140 RUFFONI, ALESSANDRO ITA 2:46 4:36 5:01 5:03 5:24 5:06 5:14
44 33:08.3 3:19 111 WEISS, MARIO AUT 2:46 4:52 5:01 5:04 5:00 5:15 5:14
45 33:14.5 3:20 127 DIEMUNSH, ETIENNE FRA 2:41 4:52 5:05 5:18 5:06 5:09 5:07
46 33:17.5 3:20 123 XU, WANG CHN 2:47 4:55 5:07 5:00 5:09 5:11 5:12
47 33:18.0 3:20 109 POPPLESTONE, TYSON AUS 2:46 4:41 4:50 4:57 5:14 5:23 5:30
48 33:19.3 3:20 105 GUENDOUZ, ADEL ALG 2:45 4:51 5:05 5:02 5:07 5:18 5:15
49 33:45.3 3:23 122 WANG, YONGBO CHN 2:53 4:58 5:08 4:57 5:06 5:34 5:13
50 34:33.3 3:28 110 PECHHACKER, THOMAS AUT 2:50 5:06 5:18 4:56 5:13 5:48 5:27
51 36:25.5 3:39 124 PROTOPAPAS, CHRISTOFOROS CYP 2:57 5:17 5:34 4:45 6:42 5:38 5:36
52 100 ADBI, KHALED ALG 2:44 4:51 5:01 5:07
53 103 BOUMESLAT, SAMIR ALG 2:42 4:47 5:13 5:25
54 147 FUMO, HELIO POR 2:42 4:46
Team:
1. 30 JPN (30:42.0 122:48.0)
1 1 YOROIZAKA TETSUYA 145 30:08.4
2 6 NOGUCHI TAKUYA 143 30:36.2
3 11 KAWAKAMI RYOUHEI 142 31:01.3
4 12 OISHI MINATO 144 31:02.1
5 ( 16) DEGUCHI KAZUYA 141 31:17.1
2. 31 ESP (30:42.6 122:50.1)
1 4 GUERRA POLO JAVIER 153 30:18.0
2 5 ELBENDIR KATHARI MOHAMED 152 30:35.9
3 9 LOZANO DE PEDRO ALBERTO 154 30:51.3
4 13 ABADIA BECI ANTONIO 151 31:04.9
5 ( 26) LOZANO DE PEDRO ALVARO 155 31:41.5
6 ( 29) VILLAMOR CASTINEIRA CARLOS 156 31:56.0
3. 71 GBR (31:16.9 125:07.4)
1 10 PEPPER JONATHAN 135 30:53.1
2 17 BEN LINDSAY 132 31:20.4
3 21 GOOSE MITCHELL 133 31:25.0
4 23 HAWKINS DEREK 134 31:28.9
5 ( 36) THEWLIS JONATHAN 177 32:22.6
4. 84 CAN (31:27.4 125:49.6)
1 15 BOORSMA ROBERT KYLE 113 31:12.9
2 20 O'NEILL KYLE 116 31:24.7
3 24 WESTON DAVE 117 31:32.1
4 25 BRETT ALLAN 114 31:39.9
5 ( 27) BRUNSTING MATTHEW 115 31:43.3
5. 85 FRA (31:37.1 126:28.4)
1 7 MALATY BENJANIN 128 30:41.7
2 8 MASCIOTRA JULIEN 129 30:46.9
3 31 DENISSEL SIMON 126 32:02.0
4 39 THEOPHILE FLORIAN 130 32:57.8
5 ( 41) BELIGNET GREGORY 125 33:00.7
6 ( 45) DIEMUNSH ETIENNE 127 33:14.5
6. 99 AUS (31:41.6 126:46.4)
1 2 ADAMS LIAM 106 30:09.7
2 22 ASHKETTLE BENJAMIN 107 31:25.8
3 28 HENNESSY LUKE 108 31:52.9
4 47 POPPLESTONE TYSON 109 33:18.0
7. 130 ALG (32:19.4 129:17.4)
1 14 CHIBANI AZZEDINE 104 31:07.0
2 30 BOUKANDOUL ABDELHALIM 102 31:58.3
3 38 BECHAREF BOUBAKER EL-SEDDIK 101 32:52.8
4 48 GUENDOUZ ADEL 105 33:19.3
8. 145 ITA (32:32.7 130:10.7)
1 32 BONA FRANCESCO 136 32:05.5
2 33 CUGUSI STEFANO 137 32:14.7
3 37 PASSERI RICCARDO 139 32:43.3
4 43 RUFFONI ALESSANDRO 140 33:07.2
9. 171 CHN (33:06.1 132:24.3)
1 34 SUN JIAHUI 121 32:15.5
2 42 LI XIANG 120 33:06.0
3 46 XU WANG 123 33:17.5
4 49 WANG YONGBO 122 33:45.3

Full video highlights are available on the following link: www.ssncanada.ca/media/special_pages/x-country-Men-2010.html

Thursday 8th April 2010

THE 2010 FISU World University Cross Country Championships take place in Kingston, Ontario, Canada this Sunday 11th April.

At the previous championships in France in 2008, the men’s home team ran off with the gold. Could our home team do the same? Or will the Frenchmen retain their title? The latter seems more likely. Two of the top three French runners from 2008 are returning, both in top form at the recent French Cross-Country Championships. Add in a top junior, a champion marathoner, and the fifth man from 2008, and the team looks strong.

But will that be good enough? For the first time in the history of the event, the Japanese are participating. And with four team members who ran, and ran well, at the 2010 World Cross-Country Championships in Poland two weeks ago, this team could win on its initial try.

The men’s teams from Great Britain, Australia, and Spain finished second, third and fourth two years ago. Australian Liam Adams would like to move up his individual position from silver to gold, and Spain’s Javi Guerra to move ahead of the two Frenchmen who beat him on their home turf. This time, he should have a teammate amongst the top ten. Young Alberto Lozano, whose twin Álvaro is competing as well, has been consistently improving. However, Britain's Mitch Goose beat him in the European U23 Championships in December, as he did Mohamed Elbinder. If Elbinder races at the top of his form, the Spanish team will do well. If Canadian Matt Brunsting is at the top of his form, he could give the home team its best individual placing ever. In fact, if the Canadian University medalists all run their best, the team should also have its best finish ever.

Add in good performances by Ugandans Simon Akeyo and Joseph Chebet, Algerian Samir Boumeslat, give Christian Glatting as good a race as he had in winning the German National Championship, and we have the makings for one heck of an exciting race!

On the women’s side, the top three teams from 2008 – Great Britain, Australia, and Italy, will also be challenged by Japan, as well as Portugal, which ended up in sixth place two years ago. Portugal’s Sara Moreira, a truly remarkable athlete, quite clearly should move up from her fifth place in 2008. Moreira, and newcomers Jess Sparke of Britain and Risa Takenaka of Japan, should be on the podium, both as individuals and as team members. The GB women’s team includes from the Loughborough Students Natalie Gray and Kirsty Milner.

Australia’s Eliza Stewart and Melinda Vernon, who placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in 2008 are both returning. Eliza, however, has been slowly recuperating from injury and surgery. Even should she reach her goal of 17 minutes for the 5 km course around the Fort Henry hill, it is unlikely to be fast enough for a podium finish.

Faye Fullerton (GBR) and Fionnuala Britton (IRL) were the top two women finishers in 2008, yet both women have finished behind Moreira at recent competitions, and Fullerton behind Takenaka, as well, at the World Championships. With such strong runners in the 2010 competition, a new course record is likely to be established. The course record, set by Canada’s Megan Brown at the Canadian University Championships last November, is 16:55.9. If Brown can run as fast this weekend, she has a good chance of a top-10 finish, a huge improvement on Canadian placings in the past.
Great Britain & Northern Ireland teams:
Men
Mitchell Goose – St Mary’s
Jonathon Thewlis - Nottingham
Derek Hawkins - Glasgow
Ben Lindsay – St Mary’s
Jon Pepper - Birmingham
Women
Natalie Gray – Loughborough
Joanne Harvey – St Mary’s
Kirsty Milner - Loughborough
Jessica Sparke – St Mary’s
Event Timetable:
(The UK is 5 hours ahead of Canada.)
1.00pm Women’s Championship 5k
2.00pm Men’s Championship 10k

www.xc2010.ca

Wednesday 7th April 2010

WITH a large contingent of the Loughborough students away warm weather training spanning the globe from Southern California, Perth, South Africa and Portugal to name but a few of the destinations where the African Violets have de-camped - the weekend at home has been relatively quiet on the competition front as the fledgling outdoor track season begins and the marathon month of April is upon us with London and Boston the highlight events.

However, the Easter weekend does provide a plethora of road races around the United Kingdom where on Good Friday (April 2) GB international Sonia Samuels representing Sale Harriers raced to a fine victory at the Salford 10km.

Samuels in her first race on the road in 2010 having secured top-ten finishes at the McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties and the English National Championships, the 30-year-old Loughborough graduate, a World Cross Country Championships representative for Great Britain last year in Amman, clocked a time of 33mins 24secs over the flat fast course to secure a comfortable win ahead of Leigh Harrier Rebecca Howarth (36:14).

Also on Good Friday Ian Grime (Newham & Essex Beagles) secured a fine victory at the Caldervale 10 in Lancashire outpacing the field by well over a minute to secure the win on over a tough demanding course.

The 39-year-old Loughborough University graduate followed up his win over 5k in Littleborough the previous week by taking the victory in a time of 54mins 09secs finishing ahead of Preston Harrier Gary Pennington (55:23).

In 2007 Grime made a remarkable return to the sport following undergoing major heart surgery winning the Edinburgh Marathon, this after he was told to stop running when it was discovered he was suffering from a rare heart condition. He was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a condition which typically affects people over 65 - which meant his heart rate would jump dramatically, triggering pounding chest pains, breathlessness, dizzy spells and exhaustion.

Alumni Tara Krzywicki led Charnwood AC to a successful defence of their England Athletics East Midlands Road Relays Championships title at the 2010 Livingston Relays held on the Loughborough University Campus on Easter Sunday.

The 36-year-old former British steeplechase record-holder combined with team mate Laura Johnson and current Loughborough student Katie Lomas to guide the national and Midlands relays champions to victory.

On the same day Alex Snook (Shildon) finished in third place in the women’s race with a time of 38:20 at the Tyneside 10km.

Andy Blow won over 110m hurdles at the Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC Young Athletes Open (April 3) clocking a time of 15.35secs (-1.3).

Over in America at the 66th edition of the Pepsi Florida Relays (April 2) former Loughborough student Charlotte Browning (AFD), the 2010 NCAA indoor mile champion continued her fine form dropping down in distance to take a fine victory over 800 metres clocking a time of 2mins 06.42secs. 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.

Double European 400m indoor champion David Gillick is one of a group of elite athletes that has travelled to Los Angeles for a spell of warm-weather training in the California sunshine - in the latest blog on his official web-site the 26-year-old Loughborough Alumni looks forward to America.

“We are located in Irvine, which is situated in South California, in what’s called Orange County, near Laguna Beach. Remember that show that was on the telly at home! Nice area, but everything is built new, but made to look older!

“So the first few days out here are spent getting over the jetlag, just doing some light jogging and stretch, and of course sleeping! The other time was spent at the supermarket getting the food in.

“When I’m away training, I like to stay in the exact same routine as home. That means the exact same diet, which can be hard in America; fast food on every corner can be a serious temptation. Pizza is my weakness, but also a place called In-n-Out burger…uummmm.

“But I am strict on myself when it comes to my diet. I like to look after myself. I do everything right from Monday till Saturday, and then I will have a pizza or something as a treat. Its important to be normal, I wasn’t born in a test tube. It’s all about a fine balance.

“I brought in a new sports nutritionist this year, Martin MacDonald. Martin has helped me out immensely this year, he gives me a detailed plan of what I need in get into my body both as fuel and as recovery from training. Remember I’m training 6 days a week, so I need to make sure I’m getting the right stuff in. Martin’s plan include what sports supplements I need to take, the food I eat as meals, and the timings of these meals.

“As I am continually looking for an edge, along with Martin I brought in a strength and conditioning coach, Pete McKnight to help me in the gym. It has been working really well and I’m stronger than I have ever being.

Both these new additions to “Team Gillick” are people I get on with, they are enthusiastic about what I do, but more importantly they are people I have 110% trust in. I know they have their fingers on the pulse, in terms of what’s new and cutting edge. Another big factor is that I get on well with them, and we can switch off at times and talk about everything other than sport, and just have a laugh.

“Anyway back to the training! We had our first weights session in the gym on Friday, had a hard time trying to convert pounds to kilograms, them yanks, always different. Session was good though, was tired after, still have a bit of jet lag in the legs.

“Saturday was our first running session on the grass. 4 x 50 seconds. We hit them fast, hadn’t run in a few days, so was itching to get going. Found it ok, but was tough, and it was hot. Was great to get training going. Looking forward to getting the head down and working hard…Bring it on!”

Sky Sports will screen a 2010 BUCS Championships highlights show over Easter, showcasing the best of student sport from the UK. The BUCS Championships, held in Sheffield and the wider Yorkshire region from the 10–14 March, witnessed 6,000 elite student athletes compete across 26 sports.

The one hour highlights show will be broadcast on Wednesday 7 April at 7.00pm on Sky Sports 3 with further repeats on the same day and Thursday 8 April over a combination of Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 3.

Best comment of the week – this came from Loughborough sprinter Elaine O’Neill who tweeted that there had been earthquakes at the track in San Diego!!!

Written and complied by Mark Woolley.

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=1155&level=1

Friday 2nd April 2010

BRITISH international Sonia Samuels representing Sale Harriers raced to a fine Easter victory at the Salford 10km on Good Friday.

Samuels in her first race on the road in 2010 having secured top-ten finishes at the McCain UK Cross Challenge Inter-Counties and the English National Championships, the 30-year-old Loughborough graduate, a World Cross Country Championships representative for Team GB last year in Amman, clocked a time of 33mins 24secs over the flat fast course to secure a comfortable win ahead of Leigh Harrier Rebecca Howarth (36:14).

In the men’s race Mark Buckingham led home a 1-2 for Holmfirth Harriers completing an eight second victory ahead of Matt Pierson in a time of 29:59.

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukresults.net/2010/salf10k.html