Milton Keynes PB Classic – 03 June 2017 – Results

Races: 47
Finishers: 495
PBs 294 (59%)
Power of Ten results: Here

Report: BMC PB classic at Stantonbury Athletics Stadium Milton Keynes- Saturday 3 June 2017

This BMC meeting, mainly for teenager young athletes, attracted yet again a record number of entries and in turn finishers. Athletes came looking for PBs, good performances and seeking to achieve qualifying entry standards from English schools to Commonwealth Youth (England deadline still open) and European Junior champs. The weather was ideal for racing, spectating and officiating too: pleasantly warm, light winds and dry.
Featured were events at 800M/W, 1500M/W 3000M/W, 1500M/W steeplechase and 2000M steeplechase.
The meeting finished to time at around 9.30pm after 5 1/2 hours of exciting youth racing. There were a significant number of performances within Power of 10 (PO10) top 10 such as the Women’s A 800 race. Every athlete in the Women’s 800 B race achieved a PB!
The meeting continues to demonstrate the popularity of this important fixture for youth athletes. To repeat an incredible 61% achieved personal bests!
Highlights included:
Khahisa Mhlanga under 20 (Chelmsford AC), the current English schools senior girls cross country champion showed her strength to speed endurance versatility by winning the 800 A race . Her time, a PB of 2.05.56, was within the British Athletics qualification standard (2.06.00) for consideration for the European Junior championships later this summer. This was Khahisa’s second time this season under 2.06.00, with her previous best also set at a BMC meeting.
Second to Khahisa was Emily Williams under 17 (Kettering AC) who with a PB time of 2.07.46 moved to the top of the PO10 rankings for the age group.
Hamza Kadir under 20 (Shaftesbury Barnet) the current under 17 English national champion at 1500metres, comfortably won the 800 men’s A race with a time of 1.52.24 just outside his PB. Runner up, Callum Dodds under 17 (Enfield and Haringey) with PB of 1.53.30 moved to 4th in the PO10 under 17 rankings.
There were 25 races for the 800s!
Jodie Judd under 20 ( Chelmsford AC) who was runner up in the English schools senior girls cross country (making a 1-2 that day for coach and father Mick Judd) continued her good form. Jodie had a comfortable win in the women’s A 1500 in a PB of 4.26.76. Watch out big sister!
Runner up was Kiara Frizelle under 17 of Cardiff AC who had a big breakthrough in recording 4.28.37 from a previous best of 4.35.00, as did her team mate Naomi Reid (under 20) in 3rd with 4.31.87 pb from previous 4.37.32 . Their coach Phil Banning must have been pleased with their big improvements.
In the men’s 1500 A race, there was an exciting tussle to the line between Joseph Tuffin under 20 (Rushcliffe) and Joseph Pollard under 20 (Charnwood). Joseph just got the win in 3.55.36 to Joseph’s 3.55.56 with both athletes achieving PBs. 8 athletes ran sub 4mins for this race with 5 PBs.
In the 3000 metres men’s A race, Shaun Evans under 23 (Royal Sutton Coldfield) was a fairly comfortable winner, in 8.27.80. Joshua Cowperthwaite under 17 (Middlesbrough Mandale) came agonisingly close to the England Commonwealth youth entry standard of 8.30.00 with a time of 8.30.89. Just a few secs outside to in 4th place was Tom Keen under 17 Cambridge and Coleridge in 8.32.57; these athletes as well as some others in the race still have time to get that time for consideration. 10 of the 13 competitors achieved PBs.
In the 3000metres women’s a race, Nicole Taylor under 23 (Tonbridge AC) was a clear winner in 9.34.40 from team mate Phoebe Barker under 20 also from Tonbridge, both achieving PBs. Further back, Grace Copeland under 17 (Wimborne AC) ran an excellent 9.55.01 for a 21 secs PB and moved to 8th on the PO10 for her age group.
The meeting shows how important it is to providing race opportunities for aspiring steeplechasers and growing numbers taking part in the chase races with 56 finishers across the four chase events.
In the opening event of the meeting, there was a clear win by senior Daniel Owen Senior (Cheltenham /Sale harriers) in the 2000metres steeplechase men’s race in 5.53.25. Daniel was just outside his PB ahead of local Milton Keynes favourite Alfred Yabsley under 20 (Milton Keynes AC) in 5.59.72 just outside his PB. Alfred continues to lead the PO10 rankings for the event in his age group.
In a competitive men’s 1500 steeplechase, 13 of the 15 athletes achieved PBs with 9 of the top 12 in the PO10 rankings. The winner Remi Adebiyo (Newport) won in UK leading 4.27.08 (13 secs PB!) from Adam Searle Rugby & Northampton and Aaron Enser, Bracknell AC in 4.29.4 also inside 4.30.00.All the athletes were from the Under 17 age group.
In an exciting 1500 steeplechase women’s A race, Abigail Nolan, under 20, Coventry won in 4.59.12 with a 6 secs PB from Lucy Jones, Charnwood. Elise Thorner under 17, Wells City was 3rd in 5.06.20 and a PB and she now heads the under 17 rankings.
Such was the demand, the BMC ran a second 1500 chase for women. This was this won by Katie Balme under 17 (Herne Hill) who moved to 4th in the PO 10 rankings in a season’s best 5.17.83 just ahead of Mia Groom under 17 (Shaftesbury Barnet) 5.18.11 and PB.
These two 1500 chase races for women provided the top 6 rankings in the PO 10 at under 17.
The meeting ended on time. By the smiles on many faces, most athletes went away happy with their performances. There were plenty of athletes achieving Power of 10 top 10 rankings. With over 60% of competitors achieving PBs, proof was provided of the importance of this event to helping our young athletes improve their performances, giving them fast pace opportunities and raising the standards of the events.
Thanks to all athletes, spectators, officials, timekeepers, helpers, Milton Keynes AC as hosts, BMC colleagues, and others for making this another successful event for the BMC and youth endurance athletes.

Report by Rob McKim/Jim Bennett
06 June 2017

MMK