Watford Grand Prix – 28 May 2016 – Results

Races: 30
Finishers: 346
PBs 151 (44%)
Power of Ten results: Here

Video
All videos of the races are available via VINCO Here

Report

BMC Nike GP Grand Prix, 28th of May, WoodsideStadium, Watford.

A pulsating women’s 800m saw three British women dip under the Rio Olympic Standard at the Woodside Stadium last Saturday evening.

The Women’s 800m has emerged as the marquee event guaranteed to ‘empty the bars’ at the BMC Grand Prix. Key to this renaissance has been Jenny Meadows and her younger peers such as Alex Bell.
Following her Rio qualifier at Sport City the Wigan Harrier was straight down to business on the shoulder of Indian Olympic semi-finalist Tintu Luka at 200m reached in around 27 seconds.
Through the bell in 57 seconds and the lead duo were joined by Alex Bell and UK indoor champion Adelle Tracey into the straight and it was now between the three Brits.
With all three leaning at the tape Tracey who emerged the narrow victor in 2:01.24 ahead of Bell (2:01.32) and Meadows (2:01.39). Less than two tenths separated the first three past the line.
“I’m really happy to win and with the time, we were very quick through 400m, possibly faster than I’ve ever done before. It’s really great to win and get an Olympic Qualifier.”
“Originally the plan was to go abroad and race but I really like racing at Watford so decided to stay home, it’s great that the BMC have managed to get some of the best girls together and race.” said the delighted winner.
The news that all three had made the Rio standard sent a buzz around the meet, now under sunny skies. Meadows revealed that she was relatively pleased with her run, having undergone a tough training fortnight leading up to the race.

Not to be ‘out-shone’ by their senior counterparts ‘The Young-Guns’ of the BMC stepped up to the plate. Sabrina Sinha has now qualified for both the 800m and 1500m for the upcoming European Youth Games, with a close second behind Joceline Monteiro, in a quick D race, both were given the same time of 2:05.48.
“The first lap was quicker than we expected at 61 fortunately we pushed each other on, I am really happy to qualify for Georgia in both events, if I can selected I will be aiming to get a medal over whichever event I am lucky enough to race in. “ said Sinha
Khahisa Mhlanga returned a European Youths 800m qualifier of 2:07.61 in the C race. Molly Canham took her opportunity to race the older girls to duly record 2:07.84 a stride behind the winner.
Bobby Clay is Poland bound after the World Junior qualifier over 3000m at Sport City. The European Junior 1500m champion moved down to two laps, and took the win in a PB of 2:05.15. In fourth place Isabelle Boffey secured a European Youth standard with 2:06.83.
“I would have loved to have broken 2:05 but I’m happy to get a PB. I’m either going to run the 1500m or 3k at the World Juniors so this was just good speed work for me.” said Clay.

Jake Wightman who has won his opening races over his specialist metric miles by some distance moved down to two laps. The Edinburgh man was content to follow the sensible early pace of 53 seconds before striking out with 250m to go. He was delighted to return a PB of 1:47.13, and looks ready to chase down the Olympic qualifying standard (3:36.00).
Behind Wightman, Daniel Rowden had a breakthrough performance (1:48.13) with a World Junior standard to boot, ahead of another good run from Spencer Thomas, who returned 1:48.52, just two tenths outside the qualification mark.
In the 800m B race, youth again took centre stage, with 18 year old, Canaan Solomon taking the spoils in 1:48.89, ahead of another European Youth mark for Markhim Lonsdale (1:49.07).
There used to be a saying in cricket when Yorkshire cricket is strong: England cricket is Strong. The same could be said of British middle distance running as athletes from the white rose county shone throughout the meeting.
Wakefield’s Charlene Thomas, training partner of Alex Bell, is another international athlete who has always been a friend of the BMC. Taking control of the race after around 600m , she quickly shook off the attentions of Jessica Judd to race to a superb season’s opener of 4:10.27.
“I’m really pleased to record such a quick time in my first 1500m for a while. The first lap was a little slower than I wanted but to run that quick so far ahead a good field in breezy conditions. I know I can go a lot faster,” she said.
The younger athletes again made their mark in this race in the form of 16 year old Erin Wallace who was comfortably inside the European Youth Games standard with 4:20.63.
Sarah Healy, a 15 year old from Ireland revised her 1500m best (4:27.90) in winning from 16 year old Lucy Pygott in the B 1500m.
The B 1500m race also proved fruitful for Swedish athlete Emil Danielson (3:46.84) who led throughout the last quarter mile to return new a new metric mile mark.

The steeplechase has been notable this year for the trend of middle distance athletes giving it a go as part of a BMC and England Athletics initiative. This time athletes were competing over the longer 3000m distance.
Ben Coldray is one such athlete, and he looked strong in the last three laps pulling away from Igor Bougnot to break the tape in 8:52.92. Bougnot (8:54.83) went home happy as did third placer Dan Jarvis (9:06.16).
Charlotte Green has always been a prolific BMC racer and pacer; here she was in her preferred 3k chase. Green wasted no time in building up a big lead on the small field. Mid race she looked as if she may be reeled in by Aimee Pratt.
However, Green recovered to return a PB (10:22.95) and will surely go quicker in a more competitive race. Pratt held on gamely to record new figures of 10:22.95 with Pratt rewarded for her tenacity with 10:32.23 in second.
Leeds based athlete Phil Sesemann ran a finally judged race to win the A race 1500m in a new best of 3:43.48 narrowly ahead of James West.
Sesemann later expressed his delight to win the £200.00 Best of British prize for the first time. The University of Leeds medical student will now focus on the trails before embarking on a two month stint in Vietnam as part of his studies at the end of the summer.

The men’s 5000m was another gripping race. Richard Goodman was the early leader, before dropping out with around a mile to run. Hickey showed impressive speed over the last lap to win in a shade over 14 minutes, just ahead of Frank Baddick, who returned another PB in his new event.
In the B race National Junior cross-country champion Ellis Cross also revised his best taking the race on with a mile to run to record 14:24.1 (which took a quantum 36 seconds off his previous best), Early leader Danny Davis also went home happy with 14:28.25. 18 year old Mohammed Mohammed wasn’t afraid to mix it with the seniors and was duly rewarded with a 14:36.81 PB.
“I executed my race plan perfectly; I didn’t mind taking it on early and sharing the work with Danny (Davis),” said the winner.

The women’s race was no less exciting. The early leader was Paulina Kaczynska, before Louise Small went into pole positon, with 2k remaining, followed by Deirdre Byrne.
However Kaczynska showed great spirit to overall both athletes in the straight to win with 15:39.04. Byrne (15:39.45) and Small (15:41.94) were both rewarded for their contribution to a great race in chilly conditions with new lifetime bests.
“Thank you to the BMC for providing these opportunities for the distance athletes, they are incredibly well organised and quality race, and it’s no problem making the journey from Ireland to these events as they are such a high standard” added a delighted Byrne.

The BMC would like to thank Watford Harriers for again letting us use Woodside stadium, the officials and volunteers, the athletes who support the BMC and Vinco Sport for the filming on the day.
Special mention must go to our superb pacers; who often travel from far and wide, to assist their fellow athletes at BMC meetings.
We look forward to seeing you all again at the next GP at Solihull on Saturday the 9th of July.

Qualifications

Olympic and European (2:01.5)
800m – Adelle Tracey -2:01.24
800m – Alexandra Bell – 2;01.32

World Junior (1:48.5)
800m – Daniel Rowden – 1:48.13

European Youth (1:52.0/2:09.0/3:52.0/4:26.0)
800m – Markhim Lonsdale – 1:49.07
800m – Sabrina Sinha – 2:05.48
800m– Isabelle Boffey – 2:06.83
800m – Khahisa Mhlanga -2:07.61
1500m – Archie Rayner – 3:49.73
1500m – Erin Wallace – 4:20.63