20 May 2016

James Ellington (coach: Linford Christie) was among the winners at the Ostrava Golden Spike which is part of the IAAF World Challenge series.

The result of the night came in the men’s 200m where Ellington took the victory in 20.35 (+0.3), narrowly outside his personal best by 0.04 seconds. A blistering start saw him lead around the bend and the 30 year-old maintained his composure to hold off a fast finishing Likoúrgos-Stéfa Tsakonas and pip the Greek by 0.01 seconds. Furthermore, the time was also inside the Olympic qualifying standard which will boost the Newham & Essex Beagle’s confidence heading into the summer.

In a thrilling men’s 1500m, Chris O’Hare (Terrance Mahon) was involved in a tight sprint finish but took third place in the end in 3:36.59. The Scottish athlete seemed to have paced his race to perfection as he sat fourth coming off the final bend and made a move for the win but Slovakia’s Filip Sasinek had enough to take a narrow victory. Tom Lancashire (Steve Vernon) also finished well to cross the line in ninth in 3:39.95.

In her first outdoor race of 2016, Seren Bundy-Davies (Stephen Ball) was agonisingly outside the Olympic qualifying standard, by just 0.06 seconds with 52.26. The world relay bronze medallist finished fifth in the race won by Jamaica’s Christine Day but was in good form at this early stage of the summer season.

In the men’s equivalent, Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider) finished fourth in a high quality race, recording a season best of 45.78. Rooney caught 2004 Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner before the halfway point and was in a good position coming into the home straight before settling for fourth behind winner, Javon Francis.

There was a British invasion in the men’s 110m with three Brits joining the line-up. Lawrence Clarke (Samba-Koundy Giscard) led home the charge in third place with a 13.57 clocking, also a seasons best. Seventh and eighth were occupied by William Sharman (Benke Blomkvist) and David Omoregie (Benke Blomkvist) respectively in times of 13.74 and 13.93.

Welshman Rhys Williams (Adrian Thomas) was fifth in the 400m hurdles with a season best of 49.85 behind the eventual winner, South Africa’s L J Van Zyl. Also, Hannah England (Bud Baldaro) was part of a big 1500m line-up which featured 19 athletes on the start list. However, the 2011 world silver medallist finished seventh in 4:11.25 behind surprise winner, 19 year-old Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany. Shona Richards (Marina Armstrong) was eighth in a stacked 400m hurdles race, setting a time of 59.08.

Full results can be found here: http://www.zlatatretra.cz/results.asp?season=2016&typ=s&eventid=22625