Lee Valley has always been a very productive hunting ground for the Squad and never more so than the opening meet of the new season at the Lee Valley December Open on Sunday (Dec 2).
In what we always bill as a "Training Session" and chance to assess early season form, the message that came shining through time and again was We are On The Right Track. Virtually every competing squad member PB'ed and SEVEN also achieved National Qualification standards
Probably the most rewarding result of the weekend came from Kitty Jones, a loyal and committed athlete who has in the past been frustrated by a brick wall that held up her 60m time. But the evidence from recent training sessions was to prove so true. Kitty was in flying form and absolutely destroyed her PB to clock 8.18 secs winning her heat and coming home comfortably inside of the the Qualification standard for Sheffield's Indoor Championships in February.
Photo Credit: Sharon Murray / Facebook
Also impressing over 60m in her debut at the distance was Chrissy Murray (Watford Harriers). A member of Pete Griffiths group, the former World Class Irish Dancer has focused on her athletics recently and teamed up with the squad this summer. She clocked consecutive 8.21 and 8.06 secs in the U17 age group. Later she achieved a very strong 1.50m in the High Jump.
Also clocking a National Entry Standard was Aby Masquelier who took a break from her preferred racing over the barriers to slash three tenths of a second from her 60m best, equalling the entry standard of 8.40 secs,
The other members of the Hurdlers group were in superb shape also. For the Martin sisters, Sophia and Alexia, PBs of almost a second took them well within the 60m Hurdle marks for Sheffield while Isla Brown recorded a more modest PB but also ensured her place in the National Championship line-up.
Laurie Sutcliffe continues to make a strong return to action with a great debut over the new settings for the hurdles clocking a superb 8.97 secs.
All the male athletes in action over 60m also PBed. Noah Hobson recorded his first sprint win in the U15 age group (time still to be confirmed) while Joe Caesar. Finn Hobson and newcomer Kai Perryman ( Cookham Runners) all broke new ground over the distance.
In addition to Chrissy's impressive opening performance the High Jump produced PBs for Alexia Martin and Elliot Marston who leapt 1.40 and 1.45 respectively.
All the athletes competing in the 300m recorded Indoor PBs some by very large margins: U17 Men Finn Hobson, Laurie Sutcliffe U15 Boys Elliot Marston, Charlie Hodson, E U15 Girls Isla Brown, Brogan McCafferty (Cookham Runners) U17 Ladies Eliza Craker (Maidenhead), Izzy Thompson.
Senior Men Richard Joseph (BNU).
Photo Credit:
Helen Craker / Eliza Craker - Facebook
Elliot Marston and Charlie Hodson both completed their 100% record of PBs in 600m.
The two youngest members of the squad also impressed. Jo Jo Snelling, while only a U13 still , is an experienced indoor campaigner and improved both her 60m and 600m bests.She was joined by Wycombe High team mate Sofia Lomas who mpressed over the same distanc.
Photo Credit: Speed Demon Facebook