Middlesex Track and Field Champs 2011

Alastair Aitken talked to ROY STRATTON, the Middlesex Championships Secretary for Runners Digest about the many 'Stars' that don't like to turn out for the Championships which of course applies to other Counties too:
" They seem to be more interested in competing in BMC races, and Open meetings where they can get a good time. In the Championships of course they get disheartened if only 2 or 3 of them turn up. They would rather have a field of 10'
 ' Having said that one particular athlete of note SEB COE, always did the Middlesex Championships. I would like to think if Seb Coe could always do the Middlesex Championships then the 'Class' athletes in Middlesex could do the same." (Seb Coe holds the Middx 800 Championship record of 1:45.2 that he did in 1984!).
In the meeting at Mile End on the 14th of May, in strong winds, the most outstanding Championship Best was done by Perri-Shakes Drayton who did her first one lap race of the season in 52.03. Another impressive run was by her Victoria Park Clubmate, Leevan Yearwood, who incidentally was at the local school and grew up with Perri. He won the 100 Final in 10.49. It was obvious things would soon hot up in the sprints as four men did under 10.8 in the first round.
Yearwood said " I have not fulfilled my potential because of injuries and one thing and another through the years but I hope to make the international team this year for experience and I hope also to make the Olympics next year as the Stadium is just round the corner from where I live"
Usoma Nwachukwu, at only 15, ran 11.99 last year for the 100. As an 'Under 17' she was so smooth over the 100 at Mile End Stadium to win in 12.23. " Although I don't like to race the 200 I do a lot of 200m training runs because my coach Julian Golding feels it will give me that strength at the end of a 100." she commented
The Late Sam Haughian's, brother Tim Haughian, 24, of Windsor Slough & Eton won a tight Senior 800 in 1:59.56 and Ben Waterman, 17, won the Under 20 race in 1:58.45 but both had run personal best times  at Watford on the 4th of May. Tim ran 3:56 for 1500 and Ben ran 1:52 for 800.
In the 5000 Paul Martelletti, the Midddlsex cross-country Champion, put in a 66 second last lap to secure victory and won in 14:48.84 which was faster than had previously been done for a few years. He uses the track races to sharpen himself for the marathon. He has already run 2:18 for a marathon this year.
Julian Golley is a very durable athlete doing 15'21 in the triple jump, if you consider back in 1990 he triple jumped 15' 27 when he won the AAA's Under 20 triple jump indoors back in 1990!
Larry Achike, that great character, who will be competing for another year before he concentrates on his coaching and administrative work in athletics. He was ardently supporting the girl he coaches from Brunel University, Anna Frankson, who did not disappoint by winning the women's triple jump with 13'11.
London Heathside's Frances Smithson won the women's high jump with 1.70. Her best mark was in the London Games in January with 1.75 and she came sixth in the AAA.so indoors with 1.73.
Quality runner Dean Lacy's brother Craig Lacy was in good form in the field doing personal bests t win the discus and shot before doing his speciality the javelin, where he threw 57 '85. He is 20 in July and coached by Steve Backley's Father John. Craig has already, this season, thrown the javelin an excellent 61' 29. Greg Thompson, the son of Shaftebury veteran thrower or Neville Thompson, was a winner in his under 17 age group in all of his throwing events and still hopes to make the Commonwealth or World Youth Games.