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‘On Camp with Kelly’ Race Day
Report by Tara Bird and Hannah Ingram
Saturday 5th April 2008
The competition simulation event took place on Saturday 5th April as part of the ‘On Camp with Kelly’ Educational Camp in Loughborough.
Kelly with OCWK athletes and the team including Elite Coach
Margot Jennings (far left)
Thist took place in ‘Bydgoszcz’, Poland, the venue for this year’s IAAF World Junior Championships and the athletes had to go through the same call room and post race procedures as they would experience at a major championships.
The event had electronic timing and the requisite number of UKA graded officials and involved OCWK athletes taking part in the camp as well as some local guest athletes. The athletes were divided into five teams – Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Kenya, Poland, Russia and USA – with Kenya winning the team competition
The athletes arrived at 10am, spirits were high and there was a strong field on display. The temperature conditions were fairly good, but the weather was changeable, with intermittent showers and winds, which affected some races more than others.
First race on the track was the Women’s Open 1000m
The race resulted in a 1-2 for the Farnell sisters.
15-year-old Lucy Farnell (USA) won in front of her older sister Zara (Kenya) in 3.00.50.
Then the Women’s 600m
Leigh Lennon (USA) set the early pace with the group bunched in very tightly behind her. Through 200m in 31.4 seconds the pace then began to quicken and 18-year-old Alison Leonard (Kenya) took the lead down the back straight, with Carolyn Plateau (Russia) moving into second place. As Alison stretched away to victory fast finishing Stacey Smith (Poland) overhauled Carolyn in the home straight and they finished second and third respectively.
Alison’s time of 1.30.96 was nearly two seconds faster than she ran in the 600m during last year’s Educational Camp and she was pleased with her victory: “I ran 1.32 last year so I am pleased to improve, especially because it was pretty cold and windy today.”
This was followed by the Men’s 600m
Andrew Osagie (Kenya) allowed Chris Smith (Poland) to take the early pace as he waited on his shoulder until the last 150m to move out and sprint away to victory. The two OCWK athletes led a field of younger club athletes home to fast times over this rarely run distance. Andrew stopped the clock on 1.20.70, a second in front of Chris and he was satisfied with his first run of the season: “I think I executed my race quite well, I led down the home straight and I am satisfied with the time for this early stage in the year.” He also spoke about his team and warned that Kenya meant business: “We’re a strong team and we’re hoping for results today.”
Chris Smith was pleased with the close finish and the battle for first place, but also spoke of the battle with the wind, which had been tough throughout the race.
The next race was the Women’s 800m
16-year-old Rowena Cole (Kenya) front ran her way to victory by three seconds as she stopped the clock on 2.11.78. Just in front of the pack at 300m, she had a slight gap at the bell. She passed 400m in 66.11 and stretched her lead down the back straight, completing a slightly quicker second lap and securing victory. Ejiro Okoro (Russia) was second in 2.14.78. Klachen Cheshire overcame her nerves to achieve a solid third place in 2.15.07: “I’m not actually an 800m runner…” she said “but it was nice to get a run out with them.”
Alex Turner, who joined OCWK in 2007, was pleased with the competition, she had enjoyed running with the new girls and highlighted that there is some promising talent on display.
Rowena Cole at the front
Women’s 1000m
A tactical affair, Suzi Boast (GBR) led the race for the first 800m and had a slight gap on the rest of the field before Laura Weightman (Kenya) and Jordan Kinney (USA) began to move out on the last bend, passing Suzi in the home straight and having a battle for victory. Stride for stride in the last 100m Laura just edged out Jordan with the girls recording 2.57.85 and 2.58.07 respectively. Suzi was third in 2.59.13.
After a hard week’s training on her first ‘On Camp with Kelly’ experience Laura was pleased with her victory: “I was surprised how good my finish was because we have been working hard this week. I enjoyed the race and it was fun racing against the other girls.” She added that she felt good throughout the race despite the less than perfect conditions. “I just focussed on running my own race and enjoyed the close finish with Jordan Kinney.”
Jordan said that the race went pretty much as she had expected, the slow start enabling her to save energy for her notorious sprint finish. But unfortunately she had let the gap get to big and was then hit by the wind on the home straight. She spoke after the race:“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t up there, but at the end of the day I just had to focus on running my own race”
Jordan Kinney (L), Laura Weightman (M) and Suzi Boast
Men’s 1000m was next
Russia took the Gold as the race was won by Ricky Stevenson.
The field was very bunched for the first half of the race with no one willing to take the pace but Ross Millington (GBR) pushed to the front with 300m remaining before Ricky Stevenson (Russia) eventually ran out the winner with a sprint down the home straight, recording 2.37.37.
Ricky said: “I’m always confident with my finish so when it was slow I was happy and I used my speed to come away and win the race.”
A breathless Ross Millington who took third spoke after the race: he said it had been a tough run and no one seemed to want to set the pace. “We’ve just been running cross country until now, but this was good preparation for the track season, it was a good blow out!”
Youngster Jack Elliott ran a solid race, especially considering the rest of the field had 2 -4 years on him. “I really enjoyed it and I know exactly where I need to be in 3 years time” said a very confident Elliott.
Ricky Stevenson
The last race was the Women’s 1500m
Heather Timmins (Russia) led the race before her tight calves forced her to drop out 50 metres before the bell. Kate Avery (Poland) took up the pace and came away to win just three seconds outside her personal best in 4.33.64. Behind her in second, Rachel Stringer (USA), who had been towards the back of the field at the start of the race ran brilliantly to shatter her personal best by 12 seconds, recording 4.36.83.
Kate was surprised and pleased with the win as well as the time that she ran: “I’m very happy with that; I didn’t expect it at all. We have been training hard in the camp, we did tough circuits yesterday. It’s far quicker than I started with at the beginning of last year, I’m pleased with that.”
Taking the third place, Monique Powell of Poland said the wind had picked up and the temperature had dropped whilst they were out there: “My legs really tightened up in the cold and I was fading towards the end.”
Guest athlete Tamara Armoush (GBR) set a new personal best with 4:38.92.
(L-R) Monique Powell , Charlotte Roach, Rachel Stringer,
Heather Timmins and Kate Avery
Considering the conditions and that it was so early in the season, the athletes certainly put on some very impressive performances.
Click here to download official results (PDF file)
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Watch out for the post camp report coming soon with more photos.
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