Three New Stars at the 'PREMIER LEAGUE' Jo Smith Cup (Sept 2010)
SHAFTESBURY WIN ON HOME TRACK
On the 4th of September at Copthall Stadium, Hendon, in the prestigious 'Premier' League Cup event for the Jo Smith Cup, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (232.0) were the team who had more strength in depth on the day. However the result was not concluded till the final event, when they had moved away from the holders for several years Woodford Green & Essex Ladies (229.5). Birchfield Harriers (226.0) took the third place in the joint scoring event.
Shaftesbury's young teenager RICHARD GOODMAN, who considers himself more a cross-country specialist, has beaten all his personal track best's this year and at Copthall he won a very tactical 800m in 1:53.47 and Martin Duff of the Athletics Weekly turned round to him and said ' You should have run faster. A 51 last lap!' Goodman replied
'It was not bad for a 5000m runner!'
Goodman continued talking to Highgate harrier Alastair " That 3000 I did at the Grand Prix at Crystal Palace was amazing for me. I was injured that week then, I just stayed in the gym and kept cross-training going. A week of rest really helped, then I came out and said to myself on the line ' I can win this and did!'
Goodman had a really 'Great' cross-country season but had not had the sufficient amount of experience to take on the World Class Juniors " It is difficult for a young person to compete on the World Stage. People had 3 or 4 years on me. I knew I had over-cooked it and was not racing well.'
' It was disappointing but my coach knows what training is needed to be done and when to taper'
Regarding competing ' I don't want to do too much too soon and so, I can have good things for the future like the European cross country and, we sat down and discussed where I want to be in five years time, with things like the European, Commonwealth and Olympics."
DANIEL DAVIS (22) HAD A BREAK THROUGH AT HENDON
Davis did his personal best for the 110 hurdles for Woodford Green and won well in 13.97 from Nick Gayle (City of Manchester) 14.04. " That was the first time I have done it legally (-03 wind). I ran 14.04 at the McCain UK Challenge Final at Cardiff on the 28th of August. I was really happy with that. All the hard work in the season is finally paying off. That was also a personal best for him. Davis is an interesting subject not documented too much yet.
" I started in Primary school. I was useless at football and other sports but I could run quick. that was how it started. I did the hurdles in secondary school. There were two fast boys at our school and one of them did the 100 so they said could I jump in the hurdles. I had seen it on TV and thought, you just run and jump. I went and did that and won and was picked up by my local club Sutton & District. There was a guy called Les Alden. He passed away few years ago but he was my first coach and I owe everything to him for staying in the sport."
Was he inspired by any hurdlers at the time he started to do the event
" I really looked up to Tony Jarrett and Allen Johnson who was a consummate professional. Technically he was rock solid with his strength and flexibility.'
In the last month he has been with Tony Jarrett and Lorna Booth and it has made an immense difference to his athletics life "Training with Tony now, obviously with a role model, with every session you have got to bring your 'A' Game' as you don't want to let your idol down.
MONIQUE WILLIAMS OF WINDSOR SLOUGH & ETON A NEW ZEALAND SPRINT CHAMPION
Monique Williams had been looking for some competition after her training load in order to sharpen up a bit for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. She is the New Zealand Sprint Champion and will be running the 200 in India.
She won the guest 100 race in 12.1 at Copthall then ran 11.92, in the match event in second place behind Shaftesbury's Abi Oyepitan (11.70)..
" I ran 22.90 for 200 in New Zealand and I have been trying to get in as many races as I can for the Commonwealth Games so I will do a couple more competitions'
Going back in time " I started running when I was 4. I had older brothers. One was six years older than me. We raced.I have always been involved in it. I never started training seriously till I was in a teenager at 13/14. My Dad Chris is my coach. He thought training was following my bothers around in long runs. I used to do 800's when I was young so, when I got good I thought 'Why run further and further. I did 2.09- for the 800 when I was 15 and, went to the World Youth at 16/17. I went down to the 200/400 I don';t want to run more than one lap but I have done 51.4 for the 400.
In a couple of years I might step up to that event but you can't train for '2 and 4' they are quite different. Last year was my first year just training for 200."