Guildford and Godalming AC – U20W 4x100m National Record – Müller Anniversary Games
Guildford and Godalming made their debut at the Club:Connect Relays at the London Stadium and what an impression they made. Qualifying as third fastest for the event, after a 49.00 clocking at their home track the Guildford Spectrum in the UK YDL South Division meeting.
The team consisting of Megan Hildrew, Jemma Wood, Ellie Grove and GB Junior International Olivia Okoli took a storming lead into the home straight and came away winners in a new national record of 45.75, shaving off over 3 seconds from their previous best. An incredible achievement on their first outing at the Club:Connect relays.
(Photo – Olivia Okoli – Guildford and Goldalming)
Hunts AC – U13G 4x100m Relay Winners – Müller Grand Prix Birmingham
Excitement, enthusiasm and expectancy… such was the mood in the camp as the Huntingdonshire (Hunts) AC girls’ U13 4 x 100m quartet rolled into Birmingham for the greatest day of their embryonic sporting lives on August 20.
Three weeks of devoted training at their St Ives track in speed and baton work ensured Daisy Coulson-Bascombe (aka ‘Dynamite’), Morgan Smith (‘Miracle’), Macy Taylor (‘Mighty’) and Lizzy Harrison (‘Lightning’) were full of confidence. ‘Train hard, race easy’ instilled coach Richard Hart during intensive August sessions leading up to their Diamond League debut in which the girls bonded, in their words, like ‘family’.
However, ajudging the times of other clubs on The Power of 10, it was clear that the small-town club would have to ‘up the ante’ to compete against the likes of Birchfield Harriers and Coventry Godiva… but in a grassroots to glory story, that’s exactly what they did.
A week before their big day, the girls were inspired by the heroics of the Great Britain and NI men’s and women’s sprint relay teams at the IAAF World Championships in London.
Despite a couple of cagey changes early on, Hunts were level-pegging at the front by the second change and stormed into an unassailable lead courtesy of Macy Taylor’s superb bend setting up top-ranked Lizzy Harrison to storm home in 54.37 secs.
Euphoria then ensued as screams of delight erupted from the Hunts Hurricanes’ fans in the stands, whilst coaches Hart and Harrison sprinted over to congratulate the team whose joyful smiles (and a few tears) on being presented their £250 winning cheque showed just how much it meant. Complimentary tickets to watch the afternoon’s action, autograph hunting and pictures with the stars capped off a remarkable occasion for the starlets.
On a great day that culminated in Mo Farah running (and winning) his last race on a UK track, it was the most perfect experience for a rising group of young athletes to get a taste of the big time,’ enthuses Hart. ‘I would strongly recommend all club managers and coaches to take a look at next season’s two domestic Diamond League events and, if blessed with a set of strong sprinters, target qualification. It is truly the chance of a lifetime!’
Richard Hart (Coach Hunts AC)
(Photo – Hunts AC)