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Pleasant Valley Saturday
The last of the popular Lee Valley Minithons took place on Saturday as the indoor season came to a close.
The event is open to the youngest age groups in track & field (U11’s & U13’s) with a star athlete in attendance to give the youngsters motivation and inspiration in this instance young para athlete Bebe Jackson who won silver in the discus at last years commonwealth youth games.
6 young athletes made the trip from Winchester with Ivor Davies-Pratt (U11 academy) recording pb’s in the LJ & the 600m as well as throwing the turbo javelin. Ivor’s long jump of 3.05m put him joint 3rd on the clubs all time age group indoor lists. Teo Sledz (U11 academy) had a good day breaking the clubs age group 60m indoor record with a time of 9.23 secs and then repeated this feat with a time of 30.22 secs in the 200m. His time of 1 min 59 secs was only good enough for 2nd on the clubs all time 600m list but these are remarkable numbers from a boy who still has another year in the age group to go.
Evie Churcher (U11 Academy) recorded a time of 12.50 secs in the 60m hurdles before running the 200m and long jumping 2.52m to go 2nd on the clubs all time indoor age group lists. Hollie Crowther (U11 academy) competed with distinction in the same 3 events.
2 boys from the U13 age group competed with Leo Davies-Pratt (coach Andy Fisher) having a great day breaking the clubs age group indoor 200m record by a hundredth of a second with a time of 29.27 secs then running a 1 min 52 sec 600m for another age group indoor club record before competing in the long jump. Niko Sledz (U13 academy) competed with distinction in the 60m, 200m & long jump.
Other than to publish the new indoor club records and the final indoor club rankings then that is a wrap on the indoor track & field season and what a season it has been for the club.
Deadline for entering 14th April Open Meeting brought forward
The first WADAC Open Meeting on the 14th April has reached its target number of entries and therefore the deadline for entries will be closing early.
The entry deadline will be moved forward to 11pm on the 4th April so if you are indenting to enter then please do so over the next few days through the link below.
Lexie’s new height stunner
Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) made it 3 new club records in 2 days as she leapt to a new pb of 3.01m at Vault London in the last indoor metting of the season at Lee Valley on Sunday.
In true vaulters style Lexie added 1 cm to her previous best and this will no doubt increase further when Lexie begins to vault outdoors when the warmer weather comes.
This is an absolute club record, meaning the highest a female athlete has vaulted in WADAC’s history either indoors or outdoors.
Bethany smashes club record
Two days into the new outdoor season and two age group club records have already been broken, this time in the hammer.
Bethany Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) showed she has worked really hard over the Winter months by opening her season with a throw of 45.42m at the Bournemouth Open yesterday. This is a 5m pb and smashes Erin McBriar’s age group (U17W) record. Beth also putted the shot out to 10.12m and threw a new pb of 33.49m in her first event in her new age group. This is good enough for 3rd place on the clubs all time age group lists.
There were pb’s a plenty in Bournemouth yesterday with Dave Sherry’s sprint group out in force. Grace Cater (coach Dave Sherry) went under 30 secs in the 200m and ran 14.44 in the 100m although the latter was wind assisted. Hayden Rogers (coach Dave Sherry) showed just what a valuable member of the WADAC YDL team he will be this season by running sub 12 secs in the 100m and then a huge pb of 23.77 secs in the 200m good enough for 3rd on the clubs all time age group lists. Hayden also ran the 300m in 39.10 secs again a new pb. Holly Poore (coach Dave Sherry) also pb’d in both 100m & 200m and Jemima Niven (coach Dave Sherry) made her debut for the club with a time of 14.14 secs in the 100m. Phillip Krinks (coach Dave Sherry) smashed his pb in the 400m running 72.99 secs. William Griffiths (coach Dave Sherry) was another to pb in both 100m & 200m and he also had his first putt with the 4kg shot.
Elias’s vaulters took a chance for an early season competition with Aeryn Hurst (coach Elias Mtshweni) going over 2.30m and also competing in shot putt. Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) finally got over the 2.30m mark to go equal 3rd in the clubs all time age group records. Decathlete Gus Bowden (coach Andy Fisher) also took the opportunity to vault clearing 2.30m.
It was great to see Maddie Turner (coach John Miller) back competing over the 400m hurdles and Maddie got her season underway with a time of 68.81 secs.
Others taking part were Mille Farndell (coach David Saunders) who equalled her pb with a jump of 4.51m. Poppy Crook (coach Andy Fisher) did the same with a jump of 1.56m in the high jump. Charlie Stewart-Lewis (coach Andy Fisher) also equalled his pb in the high jump with a leap of 1.70m. Jasmine Gordon (coach Martin McBriar) opened her season in the hammer with a throw of 38.39m.
Rebekah Smith (coach Dave McManus) was in good early season form with big pb’s in the 100m going sub 13 secs for the first time and the 200m running 26.08 secs.
Finally Sam Evans (coach Andy Fisher) smashed his pb in the sprint hurdles and also competed in the high jump.
More local open meetings take place next weekend so we will see more athletes in the black and gold making their seasonal debut.
Jess goes 15th on UK all time age group lists
The outdoor season was just 20 minutes old when Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) threw the 500g javelin out to 47m exactly at the Basingstoke Winter throws event yesterday.
Not only did this break Jess’s own U17W club record it also put her 15th all time on the age group UK lists.
Jess has worked hard over the Winter months and will surely look to improve this distance further when the warmer weather arrives.
Had the throw been at a World Athletics permit event it would have put Jess up to 17th in the world for the event in the U18 age group and will give Jess lots of encouragement as she looks to meet the qualifying standard for the European U18 champs in Slovakia in July.
Weekend track & Field preview
It’s the day that many of us look forward to as the outdoor track & field season returns this weekend.
Lot’s of WADAC athletes are in action at Bournemouth tomorrow as the first local open meeting of the new season takes place and no fewer than 20 WADAC names are on the start lists with Dave Sherry’s sprint group well represented. Jess Howells (coach Andy Fisher) is on the start list at today’s Basingstoke Winter throws event and this weekend is the cross over between the indoors and outdoors as no fewer than 6 young athletes make the trip to Lee Valley today for the last of this season’s indoor minithion’s.
Good luck to everyone competing in the black & gold this weekend.
Tom equals his pb
Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) competed in the pole vault in the last of the Brunel University indoor series meetings on Wednesday evening.
Tom recorded a height of 2.20m equalling his pb and the 4th time he has achieved this height. After learing 2.40m in his warm up jump it is only a matter of time before Tom jumps much higher.
Elsie smashes indoor age group 200m record
Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) made good use of her last run indoors as an U17 by smashing the club’s age group indoor 200m club record.
Elsie ran 25.34 at the BFTTA Open Meeting at Lee Valley on Sunday and this is also the 2nd quickest indoor time by a WADAC athlete over this distance behind GB international Holly Croxford. Elsie also ran the rarely run 100m indoors clocking a time of 12.34 secs.
Training partner Rhys Wye (coach Mark Upton) also ran the 100m in 12.21 secs and followed this with a 200m ran in 26.74 secs. Mikel Harfield (coach Dave Sherry) also ran the 200m recording a time of 28.04 secs. Amanda Smith (coach Dave Sherry) the new vets ladies track & field Team Manager also ran the 200m in a time of 34.41 secs.
Elsie wasn’t the only girl breaking records as Hallie Eldridge (coach Andy Fisher) helped herself to two on the day, firstly by recording a time of 29.00 secs in the 200m breaking the club’s age group indoor record and followed this by jumping 4.34m in the long jump also breaking the club’s age group club record. Hallie then high jumped 1.30m. Training partner Frankie Bertacchini (coach Andy Fisher) was just outside her pb in both 200m & long jump.
Sam opens season at UOB Winter throws
Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) got 2024 off to a chilly start at the University of Birmingham winter throws series on Saturday.
The event held at Sam’s home university included the hammer but obviously at this time of the year it is about blowing the rust away rather than big distances and Sam threw the 7.26kg hammer 49.58m around 50cm further than his season opener at the same event last year.
We will no doubt see Sam in a WADAC vest when he returns home from Uni but in the meantime he gets his name on the very early outdoor season 2024 rankings.
Weekly track & field preview
The last domestic National champs of the indoor season heads the action this weekend as Gracie Osman, Lily Flute & Seni Purnell on her WADAC debut (all coached by Andy Fisher) make their way up to Sheffield to compete in the National age group (U15/U17) Combined Events champs. Both Gracie & Seni featured in the EA preview of the event which can be seen through the link below.
WADAC athletes are on the start lists at both the BFTTA Open Meeting in Lee Valley tomorrow and the Surrey County indoor champs at Carshalton over the weekend. Also on the start lists are Sam Clifton (coach Jeremy Clifton) at the Biringham Uni Winter throws event today and Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farress), Elodie Trott & Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) at the Brunel open meeting on Wednesday.
Good luck to everyone.
Results from Basingstoke Winter throws
The latest in the Basingstoke Winter throws series took place on Saturday although rather strangely without either hammer or discus as the Basingstoke cage is currently out of action (definately makes us appreciate what we have in Winchester).
Just 1 competitor took part from WADAC which was Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) who had the tough job of putting the shot in outdoor conditions in February and this was reflected in her putt of just under 10m.
Weekend track & field preview
Another busy weekend indoors as the indoor season reaches the business end.
One of the largest track & field events in the country takes place today, tomorrow & on Sunday in Sheffield as the BUCS National indoor champs takes place. A number of the clubs athletes will be representing their universities in indoor action.
The English inter-area Masters championships takes place in Lee Valley on Sunday with Kathryn Miles (coach Dave Sherry) selection for VAC in both the 60m & 200m.
The Basingstoke Winter throws series takes place tomorrow with oddly no hammer or discus as the Basingstoke coach is currently condemned but Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) will be competing in shot putt.
Good luck to everyone in action.
Abi jumps seasons best
Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) closed her indoor season at the rather chaotic Brunel Indoor Open at Brunel University yesterday evening.
Abi jumped 5.14m in the long jump, a seasons best performance and will now focus on the outdoor season.
Elodie runs 800m pb
The Lee Valley Middle distance Open took place last Wednesday and U15G Elodie Gill (coach James Mann) ran in one of the many 800m races available coming 3rd on the day in a new pb of 2 mins 34.02 secs.
Thomas wins at Ayo Falola Dream mile event
One result I missed from last week was Thomas Jacobs (coach James Mann) competing in the Ayo Falola dream mile event at Lee Valley last Wednesday.
Ayo was one of the UK’s best loved track & field coaches knows particularly as a calming influence on athletes and fellow coaches and he coached a number of notable athletes including Shelayna Oskan-Clarke and Donna Fraser.
The event in his honour features a number of mile races and Thomas won the first of these in a time of 4 mins 30.42 secs a new pb.
Sam goes 3rd on all time indoor lists.
U20 man, Sam Jarrett (coach Ernie Chambers) competed indoors for the very first time in Eton on Sunday and in doing so went 3rd on the cluibs all time indoor triple jump lists.
Sam leapt 11.41m just a smidge behind his outdoor pb and in doing so went 3rd on both the U20 mens all time indoor triple jump lists and the overall indoor triple jump lists.
Sam played a big part in the clubs success in the SAL last season gaining valuable points in an event that can be hard to fill and it looks like Sam will be doing the same again as we look for points in Division 1 of the SAL this year.
Elsie moves to UK No 1
The results have finally updated from last weekend and make great reading for the club.
At the London age group indoor games Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) beat some big names to win her 300m race in a big indoor pb time of 40.71 secs which puts her as no 1 in the UK U17W rankings and moves up to 2nd place on the clubs all time age group indoor lists. Chloe Poore (coach Andy Fisher) also won her race and ran a big indoor pb of 41.35 moving Chloe into the UK top 10. Chloe followed that up by winning her 200m race in a time of 25.96 secs which breaks the clubs indoor age group record. Training partner Isobel Jordan (coach Andy Fisher) also ran an indoor pb of 27.52 in the 200m after earlier running in the 60m.
Hayden Rogers (coach Dave Sherry) had a Sunday to remember as first he ran a pb of 7.64 in the 60m to go 3rd in the clubs all time age group lists. He followed that with an indoor pb time of 24.85 secs in the 200m which broke the clubs age group indoor club record. Hayden then ran 40.05 secs to go 2nd on the clubs all time age group lists. On the same day, Frankie Bertacchini (coach Andy Fisher) improved her 60mH hurdles pb to 10.75 secs and in doing so improved her time as 3rd on the clubs all time age group lists. She followed this with a pb of 29.87 secs to break the clubs indoor age group 200m record and also competed in long jump. Hallie Eldridge (coach Andy Fisher) competed well in the hurdles and 800m before breaking her own indoor age group club record with a putt of 8.18m in the shot putt. Anais Andrews (coach Andy Fisher) ran a pb in the sprint hurdles and also putted a pb of 9.82m with the indoor shot to go 3rd on the clubs all time indoor lists.
Elsewhere in Cardiff on the Saturday, Hary Harvey (coach James Thie) broke Tom Jacobs indoor club record that had lasted all of 6 days bu running 4.08.70 to come 9th in the 1500m at the Welsh Senior indoor champs.
Results from Brunel Indoor Open series
As we await some record breaking performances to be updated following the London Indoor games at the weekend, more Winchester young athletes were in action last night in the latest of the Brunel Indoor series Open Meetings taking place at Brunel University in Uxbridge.
Tom Price (coach Elias Mtshweni) equalled his outdoor pb of 2.20m from last year and in doing so went 2nd on the clubs all time age group indoor lists. Lexie Trott (coach Elias Mtshweni) jumped just outside her pb by clearing 2.90m.
Elodie Trott (coach Elias Mtshweni) ran a pb of 9.05 secs in the 60m and also jumped 4.06m in the long jump.
Early season Open Meetings
The vast majority of individual track & field meetings are available to enter through two providers, Roster & Opentrack.
The early outdoor local open meetings are now becoming available to enter and I would advise you to enter early to avoid disappointment as more and more open meetings become full at an early stage.
In chronological order, these are meetings local to Winchester, host club & the meeting provider (this is the website or app through which you enter).
24th March, Bournemouth, Rsoter
30th March, Bracknell, Roster.
30th March & 1st April, Yeovil, Roster (World athletics permit meeting).
1st April, Basingstoke, Opentrack.
7th April, Portsmouth, Athletic events.
14th April, Winchester, Opentrack.
First WADAC Open meeting, open for entries
The first of our traditional 4 home open meetings takes place on Sunday the 14th April.
This is available for entry in the usual way through the link below in Opentrack. Early entry is advisable as the events do get full rather quickly and the hammer and discus events are already full and closed for entry.