Alastair Aitken reports on .......
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Alastair Aitken
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| JIM McNAMARA an IRISH LEGEND (May 2013) |
| Mike Gratton Looks Back (April 2013) |
| Aldershot Champions Again (April 2013) |
| NATIONAL 12 STAGE ROAD RELAY (April 2013) |
| VICTORIA PARK WOMEN'S RACE (April 2013) |
| VICTORIA PARK 5 WITH MARTIN & HICKEY (April 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part Three (March 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part Two (March 2013) |
| World Trial and Inter-Counties Part One (March 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part Three (February 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part Two (February 2013) |
| Southern Cross Country Champs - Part One (February 2013) |
| MIDDLESEX CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS (January 2013) |
| HARRY TEMPAN RETIRES AT 87 (December 2012) |
| Running Still - 133 years of Highgate Harriers (August 2012) |
| FRANK SANDO (14/3/31 - 13/10/12) |
| GREG RICHARDS (October 2012) |
| THE MIDDLESEX & OPEN 10K (September 2012) |
| NINA ANDERSON (September 2012) |
| MO FARAH - HIS BREAKTHROUGH YEARS (August 2012) |
| WILLIAM SHARMAN (August 2012) |
| DWAIN CHAMBERS (August 2012) |
| JOB KINYOR from Kenya (JULY 2012) |
| CHRIS TOMLINSON (July 2012) |
| ARIES MERRITT (July 2012) |
| TYSON GAY in London (July 2012) |
| CHRISTIAN TAYLOR TRIPLE JUMP WORLD CHAMPION 2011 (JULY 2012) |
| DON TAYLOR (1936 TO 2012) |
| THE MAN WHO CHANGED 10,000m RUNNING HISTORY (JULY 2012) |
| THE LAST TWO BRITISH OLYMPIC WALK MEDALLISTS (July 2012) |
| JIM RYUN with MARTY LIQUORI and JOHN WHETTON (JUNE 2012) |
| TWO OF THE GREATEST OLYMPIC THROWERS - JANIS LUSIS and AL OERTER (JUNE 2012) |
| BASIL HEATLEY THE GREAT ROAD/CC/TRACK RUNNER (MAY 2012) |
| RON RODDAN COACH TO A 1992 OLYMPIC CHAMPION (MAY 2012) |
| BRONISLAW MALINOWSKI STEEPLECHASER '1960's to 81' (MAY 2012) |
| GASTON ROELANTS 'THE STEEPLECHASER OF THE 1960'S' (APRIL 2012) |
| JOHN DISLEY THE UK'S OUSTANDING STEEPLECHASER OF THE 1950'S |
| MEN'S NATIONAL 12 STAGE ROAD RELAY (April 2012) |
| Women's National 6 Stage Road Relay (April 2012) |
| THE 46th VICTORIA PARK '5' (April 2012) |
| SIX OUTSTANDING OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS- 800m to 10000m (APRIL 2012) |
| EIGHT AFRICAN OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS (March 2012) |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 3 |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 2 |
| McCain UK Inter Counties & UK Challenge 2012 - part 1 |
| THE ENGLISH NATIONAL 2012 - part 2 |
| THE ENGLISH NATIONAL 2012 - part 1 |
| THE LATE BMC COACH FRANK HORWILL (FEBRUARY 2012) |
| SEAA Cross Country Championships - Juniors (January 2012) |
| SEAA Women's Cross Country Championships (January 2012) |
| SEAA Senior Men's Cross Country Championships (January 2012) |
| Six Olympic 110 Hurdles Champions Talking (January 2012) |
| CHRIS FINILL'S RUN ACROSS AMERICA IN 2011 (January 2012) |
| 'HUSTLING HERB' ONE OF THE FIRST JAMAICAN OLYMPIANS (January 2012) |
| SEAA Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships 10/12/11 |
| Dick Taylor and Allan Rushmer (60's,70's & 80's) |
| Lynn Davies (Looking back in November 2011) |
| Scott Overall (October 2011) |
| Keith Gerrard (October 2011) |
| National Six Stage Relays (October 2011) |
| National Four Stage Women's Road Relay (October 2011) |
| David Hemery (1968 & 75, Updated October 2011) |
| Tony Simmons an Underrated 'Star' Performer (September 2011) |
| Kenya's First 'Great' Sprinter - Serapheno Antao |
| The Vets Athletic Club's Championship (August 2011) |
| Mel Batty (August 2011) |
| Tiffany Townsend (August 2011) |
| Coach John Smith (August 2011) |
| Jason Richardson (August 2011) |
| Lisa Dobriskey (August 2011) |
| Mark Lewis-Francis (August 2011) |
I talked to Mark Lewis-Francis (28) at the Hilton in London, just before he competed at Crystal Palace where he narrowly missed running in the Final of the 100. I realised he still has the fire of competition in his veins, to run at the highest level of sprinting for some time in the future.
Mark Anthony Lewis-Francis, born 4th of September 1982, has had a chequered career as a sprinter and it was back when he was a teenager he ran his fastest 100m times of an unratified 9.97 in 2001 and an official 10.01 in Paris in 2002.
After a period of injury he had a resurgence last year, gaining a silver medal in the Final of the European and Commonwealth 100m Championships, as well as a third place in the Continental Cup (World Cup) in 10.16.
Mark Lewis-Francis is a Birchfield Harrier and known locally as the "Dalton Dart"
The ' Dalton Dart' is taped
" What brought you into athletics originally"
" From a very young age, I remember doing Sports Day at infants school and junior school. I had always been the quickest in my school.My Dad Shaun Lewis Francis noticed that. My Dad was born in England but he grew up in Jamaica and came back to England when he was 18."
" You have had some successes as well and some disappointments in your career. "
" I think my first ever success was when I won a silver medal in the European Juniors.It was my first ever major Junior Championships.The year after that I won the World Junior Championships. (In 2000 in Chile 1 Mark Lewis Francis 10.12; 2 Salem Mohammed Al-Yami KSA 10.38, 3 Marc Burns Trinidad 10.40 also MLF was in the winning 4x100 relay team).' That made me really stick at it and get my head down and to carry on to where I am now."
" You have had a lot of disappointments as well as successes. Do you think that has made you stronger.
and you came back to win European and Commonwealth silvers last year"
'That's right.'
" Of all the races you have done which one's would you chose as being so special to you"
" I think all the races I have done have all their own little unique part to play. I can't really section out one of them because they all play an important role in my athletics career.'
' The European silver medal was a kick start. It gave me the belief, the confidence to go out there and be a Champion. 'Before that a lot of people were writing me off saying that, I had my chances, I should retire, at 28 years old.'
' What is the point of retiring when there is a lot to go for. (European Championships Barcelona 2010. First Six:- 1 Christophe Lemaitre 10.11, 2 Mark Lewis Francis 10.18, 3 Martial Mbandjock 10.18, 4 Francis Obikwelu 10.18, 5 Dwain Chambers 10.18, 6 Jaysuma Sady Ndure 10.31)
" You have got a love for the sport and friends in it"
" Most definitely.This is my life; this is what I do best. I enjoy athletics, the adrenalin, experience and you travel a lot and meet good people. I think I have still got a lot to give to the sport. For me to give up now I would almost see as a waste of time.'
" Your coach now is Linford Christie which is quite something"
" He is a legend. He brought me back from a lot of injuries and brought me back to today."
" Are there races that are special to you"
" My World Junior and obviously the OLYMPIC GOLD in 2004 in Athens, that is one that is close to my heart.
That was the start of many great things. If I could relive that in 2012 it would be great!. ( Olympics 2004 4x100 1 GBR Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and anchor Mark Lewis-Francis --38.07, 2 USA 38.08, 3 Nigeria 38.23)."
" Are their people in the past that you have admired as Great sprinters"
" I have to say they are all 'Greats'. Linford Christie, Donavan Bailey, even to people just retired like Darren Campbell and Jason Gardner. Those guys were inspirational to me. Those guys I used to go out and watch and they inspired me to dig in and do well. I had the pleasure of running with a lot of those guys and being coached by one of the best sprinters that has ever come out of Britain, which is LInford Christie. The Knowledge of Ron Rodden as well.I am in a good place, getting the knowledge of those guys I think the World is at my feet really. It is for me to buckle up ideas and get things right."
You had one Commonwealth when everything went wrong but that is part and parcel of the experience. Roger Black said to me 'It's the journey that counts'
" We all have to experience a bit of a journey. My journey has been a bit rough. I think I am starting to see a bit of a smooth road.I think there is a lot more to come'
Getting those silver medals must have given you a feeling of carrying on to do well in the future
Definitely and basically that is it..
Alastair Aitken
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| David Rudisha - IAAF World Athlete of the Year 2010 |
| David Morwood (June 2011) |
| Rosemary Chrimes - A Star for 40 Years (June 2011) |
| Paul Dickenson Commentator and Athlete (June 2011) |
| Larry Achike (May 2011) |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 3 - SEB COE |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 2 - JOHN WALKER |
| Three of Histories Greatest milers - Part 1 - SYDNEY WOODERSON |
| Three very great curve runners of the past and their views |
| Derek Ibbotson (Interviewed Oct 1962 - updated 2011) |
| Walter Wilkinson (Interviewed Summer 2000) |
| Dave Chapman (Interview Autumn 1998) |
| 'Never Say Die' Les Roberts (April 2011) |
| David Cannon (Interview April 2011) |
| Bruce Tulloh (Interviewed April 2011 and September 1962) |
| Geoff Harrold remembered (Born 25/5/39 died 1/4/11) |
| Nick McCormick at the Victoria Park '5' (March 2011) |
| The Victoria Park '5' A World Renown Road Race (March 2011) |
| Bernard Plain MBE (March 2011) |
| South London's Historic Mob Match (March 2011) |
| World Trials and Inter-Counties - report 3 (2011) |
| World Trials and Inter-Counties - report 2 (2011) |
| World Trials, Inter-Counties and Mike McLeod (2011) |
| North of the Thames Championships - Kingsbury (Feb 2011) |
| Memories of Peter Hildreth (1928 - February 26th 2011) |
| Jonny Hay and Richard Goodman at the English National Junior 2011 |
| Louise Deman and Hatti Dean at the English National 2011 |
| Steve Vernon - English National Champion 2011 |
| Chris Smith and Serpentine - Outstanding in the Met League Final (2011) |
| Nielson Hall and others at the the SEAA Championships 2011) |
| Dave Clarke (The Great Runner from Hercules Wimbledon) |
| Chris Finill the Outstanding Ultra Distance Runner |
| Three New Stars at the 'PREMIER LEAGUE' Jo Smith Cup (Sept 2010) |
| Gladys Bird - Woodford Green & Essex Ladies |
| Bob Smith - Newham and Essex Beagles |
| Richard Thompson - August 2010 |
| Danielle Carruthers - August 2010 |
| Angelo Taylor - August 2010 |
| Michael Rimmer - August 2010 |
| British M45 javelin record holder Roald Bradstock |
| James Shane with his Coach Martin Brown JUNE 2010 |
| Tony Jarrett JUNE 2010 |
| Andy Turner Interview JUNE 2010 |
| Southern Counties Track & Field Championships at Crystal Palace JUNE 2010 |
| The Aldershot National Womens 4 Stage Champions 2010 |
| Grenville Tuck Interview (May 2010 and in 1975) |
| The stage winners at the National 12 Stage Relay - Sutton Park - April 2010 |
| Anthony Whiteman Interview - April 2010 |
| Bill Adcocks Interview - 13th March 2010 |
| Wendy Sly Interview - 13th March 2010 |
| Peter Clark A Forgotten Hero |
| Dic Evans A Runner for Wales for 45 years interviewed in 2009 |
| Douglas Alistair Gorden Pirie (Born Leeds 10th February 1931 Died 7th December 1991) |
| Peter Browne: British Milers Club and Racing Against Ovett and Coe |
| Peter Browne: Born 3rd of February 1949 |
| Six of Belgrave's Winning 12 Stage Team |
| Newham & Essex Beagles 6 Stage Winners and Course Record Breakers 2009 |
| John Salisbury |
| Dave Moorcroft Through the Years |
| Bob Smith the Successful Newham & Essex Beagles Manager August 2009 |
| Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie Interviewed in London Summer 2009 |
| Martyn Rooney at Croydon July 2009 |
| Felix Sanchez in London 2009 |
| Kerron Clement interviwed on 24th of July 2009 |
| Simeon Williamson in London (July 25th, 2009) |
| Dayron Robles interviewed in London 2009 |
| Irie Hill at the British Master Championships 2009 |
| Andy Baddeley |
| Roy Fowler - The Red Fox |
| John Snowden |
| John Hall - Race Walker |
| Mara Yamauchi - Outstanding British Performer in the London Marathon 2009 |
| Nick Goolab - The Revelation of the UK Cross Country Season 2008/2009 |
| Joyce Smith M.B.E |
| Mike Barratt The 'Evergreen' Running Legend |
| David Bedford |
| Clare Elms A Revelation of Age Athletics |
| Harry Tempan The Rennaisance Runner |
| Maureen Bonanno-Smith |
| Kermit Bentham - A man who has run over 500 one lap races in his life! |
| Andretti Bain 2008 Olympic 4x400 relay silver |
| Bernard Lagat in London July 2008 |
| Usain Bolt in London |
| Charlie Williams - Outstanding Master Sprinter |
| Where Are They Now - John Greatrex |
| The Truly Remarkable Tony Bowman |
| Stan Eldon |
| Ian Stewart |
| Pam Davies |
| Avard Moncur |
| Ken Norris |
| Gerry North - The Most Consistent cross-country runner of the 60's |
| Peter Hildreth |
| Robert Slowe - Outstanding Clubman |
| Anthony Noel - World Masters Champion |
| Franics Obikwelu |
| Alan Webb |
| Andre Bucher - 2001 World 800m Champion |
| Wallace Spearmon (2006) |
| Derek Johnson (1985) |
| James Carter - USA 400m hurdles Champion 2002 and 2004 |
| Dorothy Manley - Silver medalist London Olympics 1948 |
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