Report by Tom Gayle
Junior athletes Jazmine Rowe and Damian Gallagher were the club's top
performers at the Midland area championships as both walked away with silver
medals.
As I mentioned in the Bedford International Games report Jazmine Rowe is
getting better and better with each race despite a winter of limited
training. Rowe who is a threat over both 100m and 200m decided to focus just
on the shortest sprint of all at the Alexander stadium. It was clear from
the heats that he main rival for the title was going to be Meghan Beesley
(Tamworth A.C) as she won Rowe’s heat in a new championship best
performance of 11.93. In the final Beesley went even quicker, improving her
championship mark as she took the title in an impressive 11.78. Although
Rowe, who poses a personal best of 11.90, would have been disappointed not
to get closer to dominant Beasley her time for second place (12.17) was a
further 0.25 off her season’s best, and with National Junior Championships
scheduled for the weekend after she may just well be rounding into form at
the right time.
Damian Gallagher had an interesting weekend. The race has been one the 18
year old has been targeting this season, in fact he was so keen to run that
he actually turned up a day earlier! Unfazed by what he puts down to his
mothers error he returned the second day determined to walk away with the
Midland crown. The race itself was a typically cagey championship affair,
with no one keen to over exert themselves early on. Gallagher tucked himself
in with the leaders but after running the majority of the race at outside 9
minutes pace the Steve Shubotham athlete could resist no more and initiated
a long run for home at 700m
out. Only Andrew Russell (Stroud & District), last years silver
medallist, went with him and it was clear the title was going to be decided
between those two. Entering the home straight Russell unleashed a phenomenal
finishing kick to which Gallagher had no answer. Unfazed though Gallagher
kept chasing hard and was rewarded with a new personal best of 8.48.15,
erasing his previous best by just over three seconds.
While the junior success stories were laced with a silver lining, the senior
highlights were tinted with bronze as both Wendy Davidson and Greg Nixon
both scooped bronze medals.
Davidson continued her encouraging form over the 400m hurdles. Sarah Adams
(Leicester Corinthians) was a class apart as she took the title in 58.52.
Leila Corfield (Bristol & West), Davidson and Sian Davis (Swansea
Harriers) endured a close battle for the minor medals though, with Corfield
just being the strongest of the trio, with Davidson taking the bronze in
second fastest time of the season.
Nixon on the other hand responded well to his earlier disappointment in the
championship. After finishing fourth in his strongest event the discus, he
channelled that frustration into ensuring that he didn’t leave the
Alexander stadium empty handed as his throw of 12.77 secured him a bronze
medal.
Stoke AC Results
Men
200m
Heat 2 (-1.8)
- 3.
Richard Porter 23.54 pb
1500m
Heat 1 - 2. Andy Prophett 4.00.48
Final 6.
Prophett 4.00.29
High Jump
Final 6. James Dohnal 1.80
Shot Putt
Final
3. Greg Nixon 12.77
Final 6.
Dohnal 11.10
Discus
Final
4.
Nixon 41.31
U20
Men
3000m
Final 2.
Damian Gallagher 8.48.15 p.b
Senior
Women
400m
Hurdles
Final 3.
Wendy Davidson 62.81
U20
Women
100m
Heat 1 (-0.4) 2.
Jazmine Rowe 12.42
Final
2. Rowe 12.17
Full results can be found at www.midlandathletics.org.uk/MCAA_TFCHAMPS_RESULTS2007.pdf,
while photos of the action can be found at www.fotoccompli.com/070617mcaa.html
South
of England Championships
Men
110m
Hurdles
Heat
2 (-1.4)
4.
Rodger Skedd 15.07
Final
(-1.3) 4.
Skedd 14.86
Discus
Final
9.
Skedd 37.08
Full
results can be found at www.athleticsdata.com/resultsfiles/2007/?6290
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