16th January 2012
Weekend Update
16 January 2012
It was a busy weekend with many of the top cross-country runners in Cardiff for the McCain Cross Challenge, there was also a busy cross country league programme, but arguably, the most noteworthy performances were set indoors.
Midland Open, January 14/15
Robbie Grabarz (coach: Fuzz Ahmed) followed up his 2.29m high jump PB from a week ago with another quality winning jump of 2.24m There were also solid wins for Olympic hopefuls Laura Turner (Linford Christie) who timed 7.41 for 60m and Sarah Claxton (Lloyd Cowan) who won the 60m hurdles in 8.25.
Results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=58244
Northern Championships, Sheffield, January 14/15
World heptathlon silver medallist Jessica Ennis (Toni Minichiello) got her 2012 competitive season off to a solid start with a shot put victory of 13.95m.
Results: http://www.noeaa-athletics.org.uk/
South of England Championships, Lee Valley, January 14/15
High Jumper Samson Oni (Trevor Llewelyn) produced the top performance jumping 2.26m, a height he only bettered once throughout 2011.
Aubiere, France, January 14
European Under-23 champion and UK record holder Holly Bleasdale (Julien Raffalli) successfully opened her 2012 season with a fine victory in 4.52m, superior to what she achieved last winter. Katie Byres (Raffalli) followed up her UK junior record of 4.36m the week before with another top class vault of 4.33m.
World Junior Championships bronze medallist Andrew Sutcliffe (Raffalli) was equal first in the men’s event with 5.33m, his best height since his podium performance in Canada in 2010.
Vault Manchester, January 14
Vault Manchester – the annual meeting of UK Pole Vaulters – is a popular event supported by UKA and Manchester City Council and is an opportunity for young vaulters to mix and compete with many of the UK’s elite pole vaulters.
On this occasion, Sally Peake (Scott Simpson) was the star of the show and ensured that British women’s vaulting is probably at all time high this year as she set an indoor PB and Welsh record of 4.33m, only beaten by a 4.35m outdoor vault in the Universiade last year. She is the third British female vaulter to record a mark of 4.33m or higher already this year.
She moved the bar up to the Olympic “B” standard of 4.40m but was unable to clear this height despite three valiant attempts.
Scotland’s Jax Thoirs jumped 5.03m for a new Scottish junior indoor record.
A Pole Vault Masterclass, continuing the England Athletics’ Coaching Masterclass Series, also took place over the Vault Manchester weeend. Coaches – many supported through England Athletics’ Coach Development Programmes at national and regional level – attended the event with Herbert Czingon, former National Pole Vault Coach for Germany and currently Head Coach (for field events). The day looked into preparation for major championships and exercise progression and how this may change as the year progresses. He took both a long term (year) view and a short term (final six weeks) look at how to prepare.
Alan Richardson, UKA’s National Event Coach for Pole Vault said: “Once again, Vault Manchester produced a great environment for vaulters of all levels. The music and fantastic atmosphere provided a great place for the elite vaulters to begin their competition seasons. It was great to see two national records as a number of athletes work towards the the Olympics and World Junior Championships. The many personal bests seen in the junior age groups is credit to the great coaches we have in the UK and shows a bright future ahead. In addition, Herbert’s presentation at the masterclass gave coaches an insight into true world class coaching as we all work together to improve UK performances and move into the world elite in the pole vault.”
Results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=60103
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