Freak gust of wind denies Russel a new 200m PB and Malaysia a new National Record for the mens 200m’s at London’s Stratford speed GP.
18th August 2024
Sports league
LM Community Track, London Stadium
A second visit this season to the Stratford Speed GP, this time for Russel Taib it was another trip down to the capital from his midlands base to compete at this now famous sprint competitions in London with some of the top UK sprinting talent and looking for further improvement in his favoured 200m discipline for the culminating weeks of this outdoor season.
Amongst the rapidly becoming familiar competitors for this race of the UK athletes in GB and NI producing sub 21’s like Tyler Panton and Baily Swift, this 200m line up also had Canadian Olympian Eliezer Adjibi (PB 20.72) adding some international flavour alongside Russel, and so a fast race was anticipated.
At the gun it was a good start for Russel out the blocks and coming off the bend well placed. On the back straight the Canadian favourite kicked hard to try and push ahead of the pack but clearly encountered an unfortunate physical injury and dropped off, Among the four remaining front runners tightly grouped, Russel was able produce a strong last 30 meters that saw him time the finish perfectly to just get in front for the finish line and take first place.
Trackside the timing clock had 20.71 recorded and elation for Russel as a new PB for himself and also a new National record for Malaysia in the mens 200m looked on whilst waiting on the official result.
Alas frustration followed as the official results came in and whilst the time was accurate the wind recording was over the allowable limit for the record books. Particularly disappointing with the other races on the day being within wind legal parameters and a weather anomaly occurring just at a most inopportune moment!
Official records aside a great race execution from Russel and testament to the work on the raining ground, honing technique, and building competition momentum this season.
