There have been some promising early-season performances.
Jack Goodwin and Rebecca Murray both competed in the ‘Comeback’ 5000m at Battersea Park on 31st March. Rebecca came third in the women’s race, in 16:28.18. Jack’s finished seventh in in the men's race, in 14:13.96.
Two days later, and several thousand miles away, Matt Leach ran an excellent 5000m PB of 13:46.26 in Palo Alto, California.
Also Stateside, Tabatha Walford collected PBs over 5000m at San Marcos, Texas on 26th March (17:29.19), and 1500m (4:35.55) at San Diego on 7th April.
Under 17 Joe Bennett set a 100m PB of 11.48 whilst finishing second at Kettering on 17 April, and also recorded 23.81 over 200m. In the same meeting, V50, Peter Benedickter ran 58.07 over one lap, and Under 17 Etienne Maughan ran her second-fastest 100m (12.02) to finish 4th out of 8 in a race in which she was the only woman. Etienne also clocked 25.27 over 200m.
Turning to the middle distance events, under 17 Alex Alston improved his 1500m PB to 3:56.37 whilst finishing a close second on a cold evening at Nuneaton on 11th April; Under 20 Jamie Webster opened his season with a 1:58.42 800m in Birmingham on 21st April, and at the same meeting fellow under 20 Ed Blythman, who has been struggling with injuries, improved his 3000m PB to 8:48.41. There were further 3000m PBs at Harrow on 22nd April for Craig Emmerson (8:51.61), U17 Euan Supple (9:52.00), and Under 15 Cameron Barnes (9:46.67), who finished third in his race. Meanwhile, Dan Jarvis turned his hand to the marathon, running 2:32:00 at Kew Gardens on 26th March.
Last but not least, at the Birchfield Young Athletes Open Meeting on Sunday 18th April, Sadie Werrett won the under 17 Women's Javelin with a new PB of 39.34. This puts Sadie top of this year's UK under 17 rankings. Well done Sadie!


