28th July 2024
Lee Valley Athletics Centre – 61 Meridian Way, London N9 0AR
After an arduous working week with some extra shifts necessary to cover athletic costs, and the high intensity weeks training, it was a tough call to try and make this competition for the athlete.
With the added pressure on covering the costs of training and competing this season translating to concerns on energy levels and potentially not enough rest, recovery has become the casualty this season.
However, with another building cycle in progress for the August competitions schedule with a final European outing against world class competition lined up for Poland at the end of next month – it was a close call – but a green light to push through the fatigue and attend regardless for the final weeks of the outdoor season risk/reward benefits.
So it was a return to a fast becoming regular travel day to the capital and back within the day for the Sunday competition in the 200m BFTTA open in London to continue with another 200m competitive run out.
As usual for this race it was no lack of fierce competition either with the majority of athletes lining up in the top seeded 200m race with PB’s at sub 21 second.
Conditions were good at 24C with a sunny and cloudy afternoon and despite the field running into a slight headwind for this particular race.
It was jubilation around the ground for a section of the crowd for an unattached U17 junior Jake Odey – Jordan, who really took his chance to announce himself on the athletics scene, taking first in 20.78 as the only junior involved amongst all the seniors.
For Russel it was 5th place and 21.43. Not the best day result wise but all things considered it was another good 100% output effort, with the usual grit and determination on show, with no physical issues post-race despite the tiredness and coming through unscathed with another competitive run in the bank to continue to build on.
