• Press Report 14th July 2008

     
    Road Report 

    After turning out for the club the previous day in the Southern Men's Track and field league Ilford AC's prolific racer, Malcolm Muir, was again in action on Sunday achieving 5th place in a very competitive Felsted 10k.  Woodford Green's Bertie Powell breezed the race in an excellent 32.08 with Muir just losing out to his training partners from Springfield Striders, Gary Chandler 33.53, and Paul Molyneux 34.38. Elsewhere  the inaugural winner of the Felsted event, Terry Knighttley, was the sole Ilford AC Representative in the Thundersley 5K Road and finished in a  time of 19 minutes and 20 seconds for 10th place out of a small field of 72 starters headed by Billericay's.Crsipian Bloomfield.  
     

    Nixon shows talent before bidding farewell to Ilford

    On a day when athletics fans were focussed on the Olympic trials in Birmingham, Ilford’s top athletes were competing fiercely to record a valuable second place in a high scoring Southern Mens League match at Ilford.  

    Rob Nixon has always guaranteed high points with his outstanding ability over the middle distance events and did not disappoint with two classy runs in the 800m and 1500m.  In the 1500m, Nixon was tucked into second place at the bell which was reached at a fairly modest 4:18 pace and four athletes still in contention.      As the last lap progressed, the leader made a kick into the penultimate bend which put a five metre gap to Nixon and the chasers which was maintained until the 200m mark.  Nixon has lightening pace and kicked again, gradually reeling in the tiring Hercules athlete and finally dipping to the line with a fine victory in 4:09.2 and a final lap of 61 seconds.  Earlier in the day he had competed in the 800m, up against a talented and confident Norwich athlete, Carl Goose.  The first lap of 60 seconds was modest and the race only picked up on the second lap.  The leader was overtaken by the Goose who gradually gained a significant lead over the chasers.  But Nixon is a gritty runner and pulled the lead back and ran neck and neck down the final straight with the two athletes recording the same time of 1:56.5.  There was a nervous wait as the result came in, which unfortunately went to Goose by the ‘width of a vest’.  Nixon is planning to head north next year.  He has been an excellent servant of the club and will be sadly missed both for his ability as an athlete and his friendly, yet determined character.

    With the squad’s two top sprinters unavailable, the mantle was handed to Gary Madigan, which he used to great effect to record victories in the 100m (11.5) and 200m (23.0), the latter being his best ever time.  He was also part of the two relay teams, anchoring the sprint team of Simeon Stuart, Antoine Green, Osi Nzeako and Madigan to an excellent 2nd place with a time of 44.7 and closing down fast on the leader.  He also recorded an outstanding split of 52.0 on the third leg of the long relay.  With the club short of sprinters, it was necessary to call on Elijah Collins for his debut over 400m to record an excellent split of 56.1, while Osi Nzeako led off with 54.9 and an exhilarating anchor leg of 50.0 by Sam Malekout pulled back 30 metres on the leaders to sneak into 2nd place with 3:32.8.

    Sam Malekout had earlier competed in the individual 400m.  Adopting a tactic of relaxing down the back straight into a strong wind, he was still very strong at halfway and was able to power away at the 200m mark to pull a long way clear of the field and equal his best time of 50.5.  It was a quarter mile double as Osi Nzeako went on to win the second string race with metres to spare in 54.0.  Antoine Green and Elijah Collins are both progressing well in the high hurdles, using their great strength to power through the barriers with times of 18.5 and 17.9 respectively.  Green had a busy day with only 15 minutes to spare before moving on to the 200m which he did in 23.7 to add to his 100m in 12.0.

    Ilford’s jumpers are coming into some excellent form, with Nathaniel Senior recording a distance just a fraction off his best in the triple jump with 13.19m, while Simeon Stuart was also nearing his best with 6.35m in the long jump.  They were very ably supported by Elijah Collins with 12.45m in the triple jump and an outstanding leap from Healson Ihuoma in the long jump of 6.29m.  The high jump is becoming very competitive with Stuart squeezed out of the event but opting to jump in the event as a ‘non-scorer’ and upsetting the form book by recording a height of 1.80m.  Collins and Senior were also near their best with leaps of 1.75m and 1.70m respectively.

    David Dickinson’s aim of enhancing his best time for 5000m was compromised by a strong breeze down the back straight but nevertheless, the leaders took off at a fast pace of around 15.20.  Superveteran, Guy Amos was the form athlete and led throughout with Dickinson trailing his every move in a front group of three.  Amos and Dickinson slowed slightly but by the last lap it was a ‘two horse race’ with both athletes known for their quick finish.  Dickinson stuck with Amos until the last 150m when the older athlete launched into a lightening finish to win by five seconds with Dickinson recording a time just outside his best with 15.42.8.  Without any signs of tiredness, he later went to partner Nixon in the 1500m, which he completed in an excellent time of 4:20.6, despite not having done the event for many years.  Darren Bottrill was the other runner in the 5000m and performed well in the wind to record a time of 16:58.5, which would have been near his best in better conditions.

    Malcolm Muir has been trying to break 2.09 in the 800m for some time now, often thwarted by inappropriate competition or poor conditions.  This time he was caught in a group going at the perfect pace and was rewarded with a time of 2:08.6.  Later he found himself in a hotly contested steeplechase competition which started off at a sprightly 10 minute pace.  Muir ran his trademark race, leaving the overly quick early pace and gradually picking off some of the tiring athletes.  Despite recording an excellent time of 10:44.2, it was not enough to reach the leading three runners this time.  Macdonald also ran well and was rewarded with a third place in 11.18.6, which is 20 seconds faster than his previous seasons best.  The two scoring runners were joined by newcomers, Andy Mason and Anthony Marsh who knocked chunks off their previous best with times of 12.26.5 and 12.51.3 respectively.

    While not at his best, Sol Anwar adds vital class to the throwing squad and did not let the team down with excellent throws of 11.07m in the shot and 31.97m in the discus, both recording second places.  John Hadler and Pete Whiting were also on form, both recording seasons bests with 31.76m and 22.06m respectively.

    The final scores were Hercules Wimbledon 128, Ilford 123, Walton 122, Norwich 95 and Oxford 62.  The narrowly achieved 2nd place retains the clubs aspirations for promotion next year, retaining their position of 4th place with 5 to go up, but will require a good performance in the final match against top quality competition at Mile End on 2nd August.

    Other performances: Dewa Reza: 400mH 73.8?, Anthony Marsh: 400mH: 79.6, Sam Malekout: PV 2.40, SP 8.41, DT 23.54, Pete Whiting: PV 1.10, Healson Ihuoma TJ 11.76, Simeon Stuart TJ 11.05m.
     
    British Olympic Trials -Birmingham
     
    Two of Ilford's top young sprint stars competed in the British Olympic trials over a busy weekend of athletic action.
    Rachel Giwa acquitted herself extremely well progressing to the semi final stage in both the 100 and 200 metre events against the highest competition in the land. Giwa can be well satisfied by lowering her 100m PB firstly to 11.99 in the heat and then to 11.91 in the semi final. In the 200 metres Giwa was again on song recording times of 24.75 and 24.85 on her route to the semis.
    Aaron Balogun gained some invaluable experience but was nevertheless diasappointed not to progress past his 200 metre heat coming 4th in 22.03.
     
     
     
    Eastern Young Athletes League -Round 4 Thurrock - report by Paul Cheal.
     
    JACOB WAS ON SONG
     
    On a Sunday day Ilford Athletic Club took a squad of athletes along the A13 to Thurrock Harriers for Round 4 of the EYAL.
     
    Jacob Ansong was in fine form when he competed in the U/17 Men's sprints. He equalled his PB in the 100m with: 12.0s but improved in fine form with a PB in both the 200m and 400m respectively: 23.9s & 53.9s, so definitely more to come there. Jack Webb ran the middle distance double with a: 2m 15.3s PB in the 800m and 4m 51.1s for the 1500m and the High Jump: 1m 40. Chris Dawe whilst frustrated with his Discus: 32m 69cm recorded a PB in the Shot Putt: 10m 67cm and the Hammer was: 19m 79cm, whilst Rob Legon: 9m 78cm in the Shot Putt, 26m 72cm in the Discus and 23m 80cm in the Javelin whilst this make shift team did the 4x100m in a time of: 55.7s approx.
     
    In the U/15 Boys Dean Ulla did the 800m in: 2m 33.1s, the Long Jump: 4m 14cm and the 100m: 14.4, whilst Kofi Jeffers did the 100m: 11.9s the 80m Hurdles just outside his PB with: 13.2s but was very pleased with his new PB in the High Jump: 1m 60cm..
     
    Thomas King in the U/13 Boys recreated his 1500m that he did at the district schools earlier in the week to record a PB in the 1500m with: 5m 18.2s and also a PB in the Shot Putt: 4m 71cm whilst also doing the High Jump: 1m 20cm. George Hadler did the 75m Hurdles with a PB: 13.5s the 800m: 2m 33.6s and the High Jump: 1m 30cm. Ciaran Rodway the hurdles as well: 16.6s and 800m: 2m 44.8s and the 200m: 30.3s. Jordan Akisanya 100m: 13.3s, 200m: 27.3s and the Long Jump: 4m 84cm, whilst a newcomer Jamaal Gervaise did the High Jump as a Non-Scorer: 1m 15cm. The relay team (Akisanya, King, Hadler & Rodway) came home in around: 57.1s.
     
    The U/13 Girls had one competitor a newcomer as well Nadia Gervais she did the 100m in a time of: 14.9s and then went on to do the Long Jump: 2m 75cm and then the Shot Putt: 5m 33cm.
     
    Clare Rodway in the U/15 Boys eventually reached and surpassed the 4m barrier in the Long Jump with: 4m 02cm, the 75m Hurdles: 14.6s and the 300m: 49.4s, whilst Corina Bryce Arnold: 13.3s for a PB in the 100m, 27.3s for the 200m and a PB in the Shot Putt: 5m 38cm. The other athletes in this age group was Mika Marston who did the 200m: 29.6s, Shot Putt: 7m 11cm and a new event for her the Hammer which she seemed to enjoy with: 15m 99cm.
     
    Last was the U/17 Women where Rochelle Rhodes did the Triple Jump: 9m 90cm, the High Jump in which she equalled her PB of: 1m 45cm and the Shot Putt: 8m 09cm, whilst Laibah Malik did the 100m with an impressive equalled PB in a time of: 14.6s, the Long Jump with a PB of: 3m 94cm and the Javelin: 8m 52cm.
     
    Yet again with a small squad the athletes from Ilford AC excelled themselves and shows that there is certainly talent there. Next stop is the final and Crucial round of the UKYAL Meeting at Thurrock next Sunday.
     
    English Schools Championships 
    Friday & Saturday saw the English Schools Track & Field Championships 2008 take place at Gateshead Stadium whereYoucef Zatat flew the club colours for Ilford AC representing the Essex team in the Junior Boys Discus.
     
    Zatat who has done extremely well this season went into the event ranked 5th in the country and with all his big rivals there he looked forwarded to some tough competition indeed. In Saturday's overcast conditions his first round throw was over 37metres, a distance which he slightly extended in the third after no throwing in the 2nd. With 3 extra throws the Ilford Athlete now was tied for 3rd place. In round 5 he excelled himself with a superb throw of: 41m 75cm passing his previous PB by a massive 1m 49cm to secure 3rd place much to the great pleasure of his family and coach who were watching.