Milton Keynes PB Classic – 07 June 2014 – Results

Races: 35
Finishers: 302
PB’s: 181 (60%)
Power of Ten: Here

Pictures
Pictures from the meeting can be found HERE

Report

• ? Races: 35 (26 races – 2013)
• ? Finishers: 302 (197 competitors – 2013)
• PB’s: 181 competitors (60%) (145 competitors – 73.6% PBs – 2013)

This BMC meeting, mainly for teenager young athletes, attracted a record number of entries and in turn finishers and continues to demonstrate the popularity of this important fixture. Rising star Jess Judd, GB World championship senior internationalist in 2013 when a junior, took the opportunity to get a fast run in before an overseas run later in the week.
Key aims for many of the athletes were PBs, good early season performances and seeking national and minimum entry standards times for the English schools and other meets needing qualification times etc.

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 60% of competitors achieving PBs, provided proof of the importance of this event to helping our young athletes improve their performances, give them fast pace opportunities and raise standards of the events. The steeplechase races in particular were packed with top 10 and age group leading Power of 10 performances and encouragingly had 31 finishers for the 4 events. Featured were events at 800M, 1500M 3000M, 1500M steeplechase and 2000M steeplechase.

After early Thunderstorms and heavy rain, the meeting which started at 4.00pm and ended on time at 8.30 pm was held in bright, dry conditions with a little breeze early on; highlights included:

• Jessica Judd, age 19, Chelmsford AC win in the 800 metres-women in 2.02.77 her second fastest of the season She smashed the track record of 2.07 with a virtual solo display and looks to be coming into great form.
• Katie Ingle, age 19 Royal Sutton Coldfield, had already achieved the World Junior GB qualifying time for 3k steeplechase. Katie moved down to race the 1500 metres steeplechase and won comfortably in 4.50.89 to lead the PO 10 rankings by 9 secs as well as heading the longer 3k chase event too
• Katy- Ann McDonald under 15, Blackheath and Bromley in finishing 2nd in her 3000metres race in 9.56.71 to the winner and older Melissa Hawlin, now heads the PO 10 rankings. Katy moves to 9th in the All Time under 15 rankings. Katy also leads the under 15 ranking in the 800metres, 1500metres and is one to watch out for the future. Her coach Phillip Kissi, draws on BMC’s founder member Frank Horwill’s 5 pace training approach.
• The 1500 metres men’s steeplechase where all the athletes were under 17 was of high quality with all seven finishers achieving times that take them to top 8 in the PO 10 rankings. The winner Archie Walton, Taunton ran 0.1 second off his PB, in just holding off Sam Summerville of Yeovil /Wells City by 0.2 in an exciting tussle to the finish line.
• The men’s 2000 metres steeplechase of under 20 athletes with 11 athletes competing was won comfortably by Abdi Abdi, age 18, Birchfield Harriers in PO10 leading performance of 5.57 .17 . Behind Abdi, were Samuel Lane de Courtin, age 17, Tavistock 6.02.52 ,Harry Dunderdale age 18 , Lincoln Wellington/City of Sheffield 6.04.71 and Ben Priddle age 18 6.06.02 Reading AC, all achieving PO 10 top 5 rankings
• In the women’s 1500 steeplechase behind Katie Ingle’s PO 10’s leading performance were excellent runs from Emily Smith, Yeovil age 18, 5.04.35 and Rebekah Ward age 17, Lincoln Wellington, 5.06.33 both PBs and moving them to the top 5 in the PO 10 rankings for Under 20. Encouraging seeing 11 athletes competing in this event.
• In the women’s 2000metres steeplechase Nicole Taylor less than 20 Tonbridge AC won with 6.51.88. Nicole managed to break away from Philippa Bowden, age 19 Bracknell AC 6.56.81 in the closing laps with both achieving PBs and taking the top two positions in PO 10.
• Behind Jessica Judd in the 800 metres and having great runs in 2nd and 3rd were Lauren Russell, age 16, Bedford and County 2.12.08, a time hat moves her to 5th in the PO 10 rankings as U17. And first year in the age group Sophie Tooley age 15, West Suffolk with 2.13.20 to go 7th in the PO 10.
• In finishing 3rd in the women’s 800 B race Molly Canham under 13 Newton Abbot, moved to head the PO 10 rankings for her age group event with a superb time of 2.16.54 and taking her to 7th All Time.
• The 1500 races had plenty of PB with 3 under 15s moving into the top 8 of the PO 10 rankings with Matt Rawlings age 14 of Reading AC with a time of 4.10.6 for 9th in the B race moving him into 2nd in the PO 10 rankings.
• The last race of the evening, the 800 metres I races of Under 13s ended a great evening of athletics with the host club Milton Keynes AC fittingly having their athletes fill the first 5 places.
• Thanks to all athletes, spectators, officials, timekeepers, helpers, Milton Keynes AC as hosts, BMC colleagues and sponsors Nike for making this a successful evening.

Report by Rob McKim/Jim Bennett
10 June 2014

Results