29th April 2019
WEEKEND UPDATE
Fernando Alves, Marinha Grande, 27 April 2019
After injury and surgery over the last two years since winning world silver in London, Kyron Duke (coach: Anthony Hughes; club: DSW Para Academy) started his outdoor season with a bang in Portugal, throwing an unofficial world record of 14.53m, adding over a metre to his previous best.
His previous best was 13.35m – set earlier in April in Kingston – moving up from 12.58m from 2017. His series included throws of 13.61m, 13.92m and 14.17m at the low-key meet on the continent, all over his previous lifetime best.
Results: Link to follow
Penn Relays, Philadelphia, USA, 25-27 April
Greg Thompson (Neville Thompson; Shaftesbury Barnet) produced the throw of his life at the Penn Relays on Saturday, launch this discus out to 65.56m to move to fourth on the British all-time list. A PB by some four metres, the Shaftesbury Barnet thrower surpassed the World Championships qualifying mark and was the furthest throw by a Briton for six years.
Desert Heat Classic, Tuscon, USA, 27 April
Immanuela Aliu (John Blackie; Blackheath & Bromley) continued her upward trajectory early in the outdoor season as she achieved the European Under-20 Championship qualifying standard in both the 100m and 200m with storming runs in Arizona.
Aliu clocked 11.50s (0.1) to move second on the European rankings for 2019, and her 23.44s (1.6) places her top of the pile in Europe and 13th in the world at this early stage of the season.
LSU Invitational, Baton Rouge, USA, 27 April
Lucy Bryan (Alan Richardson; Bristol & West) built on a series of strong vaults so far this spring to better her personal best with a 4.50m clearance, stepping into world class territory. Having shown this type of ability when winning bronze at the World Youth Championships in 2011, Bryan bettered her old outdoor personal best by 7cm to move to second on the Power of 10 behind Holly Bradshaw.
Elsewhere in the field, Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson; Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) set a new season’s best with the 7kg hammer of 70.06m, a throw that puts him 11th on the NCAA rankings for 2019.
BUCS Trials & Open Meet, including BUCS 10,000m Championships, Loughborough, 27 April
At a cold and windy Loughborough, the best student distance runners contested the BUCS 10,000m Championships, where Petros Surafel (Mick Woods; Thames Valley) prevailed in the men’s race with a strong 29.26.57 clocking. In the sprints local athlete Amy Hunt (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) showed great early season form, the junior running 11.41 (3.7) and 23.09, impressive times even factoring in the illegal tail winds.
Results: Link to follow
Drake Relays, Des Moines, USA, 24-27 April
Cindy Ofili (Jeff Porter; Woodford Green & Essex Ladies) improved her season’s best in Des Moines with a 13.20 time, good for sixth on the day, but puts her top of the Power of 10 rankings.
Multistars, Lana, Italy, 27-28 April
There were 6 Brits in multi-event action over in Italy at the weekend, Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor (Francis O’Hagan; Newry) leading the way with a stunning personal best score of 5881 points, to finish second in the heptathlon. Adding almost 200 points to her previous best, O’Connor also set PBs in the 100mH, javelin and shot put.
Jessica Taylor-Jemmett (Joe Frost; Sale Harriers Manchester) also produced her best score since 2017, amassing a total of 5663 points to finish sixth on the day. Scot Andrew Murphy (Colin Sinclair; Kilbarchan) was the only male in action and he challenged his personal best with a 7125 decathlon score.
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