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Big disappointment for Michael
Rimmer 31 August
 Michael
Rimmer competed on athletics biggest stage, the World Championships
in Osaka, Japan. He has had a fantastic season confirming his
position as Britain's No 1 800m runner and went to the Games having
already met and defeated some of the principal contenders for the
final. In his heat he looked very formidable indeed finishing a
comfortable second in 1.45.66 and exciting comments from
commentators for his maturity and class. He had already proved a
master tactician on the European circuit but things went awry in the
semi-final as he found himself forced into the lead. With class
runners around this was not the best position to be in and his
courageous front running was bound to be capitalised on by the rest
of the field. Although he entered the finishing straight in front he
was swept aside in the rush for the line and faded to 6th in a
disappointing 1.47.39.
After the race he joked that maybe that
was Plan D. He went on to say: `To be honest, from the break I was
running scared as I'm not a front runner. I was waiting for them to
come. At 80 metres to go you should focus on form, but I was waiting
for them and I crumbled'. At 21 Rimmer is still learning and he went
on to comment: `It was important for my development to make the
final but just being here is a massive eye-opener. I will be back
stronger next year'. Next year, of course, is the Olympic Games in
Beijing. However, there is no
getting away from the disappointment of the occasion particularly as
the final of the 800m turned out to be exactly the sort of tactical
race Michael would have revelled in.
The plus side for Michael is the
invaluable experience he has gained this season at the very top
level of two lap running. He now knows there is nobody in the world
he need fear. Together with coach, Norman Poole, he will go back to
the tough winter training regime and meticulous planning that has
transformed him into Britain's best 800m prospect in a generation
Report Charles Gains
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Another brilliant run from
Nathan Hilton 26 August
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton are surveying
a remarkable track and field season that is not yet over and
characterised by some amazing breakthroughs to top class levels.
Nathan Hilton reflects this and after an unexpected bronze medal in
the England Athletics Under 17 400m championships he was selected to
represent the North West in the Schools UK Games in Coventry. In
finishing fourth he lowered his personal best once again to 49.14
and will figure in the top echelon of the national rankings when
they are published later in the year.
It is a mark of the club's depth in
talent that no fewer than 12 other athletes received a call up by
their counties for the Northern Inter-Counties Championships in
Hull. The Lancashire contingent was led by June Swift(3rd Senior
800m 2.16.31), two fifth placers (Elliot Marsters U17 1500m
Steeplechase 4.51.80, Chris Hatton U15 800m 2.11.7) and 6th placed
Jake Helm(U17 1500m 4.26.75). For Merseyside there were two good
winners in the shape of U17 athletes Danny Higham whose 400m time of
50.28 takes him to within a hairsbreadth of the sub-50 club and the
consistent Chris Hesketh(1500m Steeplechase 4.35.04). Other Under 17
performers included David Forrester(2nd 1500m in 4.08.00) and Callum
Burns(5th 200m 24.17). At Under 15 there was a brace of thirds (Adam
Thomson 200m 23.95) and Mike Bride(1500m 4.25.99) plus Ed Rimmer 8th
in the 800m in 2.20.11. The club's sole Merseyside Senior
representative was Kirsty Longley, 3rd in the 3000m in a very
respectable 10.49.38. Results
link
Report Charles Gains
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Bronze for Nathan Hilton in the
England Athletics U17 Champs
Harry Doran, our Northern Under 17 400m
champion, was one of the favourites for this title at Don Valley on
the weekend of August 10th and 11th. Sadly a foot injury has put him
out for the season but immediately Nathan Hilton stepped up to the
crease with a remarkable series of runs... a heat time of 50.81, a
semi of 49.96 and a brilliant 49.54 bronze medal placing in the
final behind Nathan Wake of Herts who ran the best time this year of
48.77. An earlier report paid homage to five athletes in the club
who have run under 50 seconds for one lap, now we add a sixth in the
shape of Nathan. Astonishingly Danny Higham's semi-final time of
50.77 was not good enough for the final but indicates a seventh
possibility! Coaches Ray Twentyman and Tricia Farrell have every
reason to be delighted with this season.
Report Charles Gains
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