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More national medals for LPS 11 March
Another weekend of cascading national medals for the Liverpool Pembroke
Sefton athletic club. After a stunning European Indoor 4 x 400m gold
medal Phil Taylor went to the British Universities Championships at
Sheffield. Dropping to 200m he still collected a personal best of 21.72
seconds and a bronze medal. However, a
 gold
was not far away as he anchored Loughborough University to a 4 x 400m
relay win. Club mate, Mark Grimshaw, was another finalist recording a
sharp sub-49 seconds 400m en route and opening up the prospect of a fine
outdoor season.
At a wind swept Sunderland the club's formidable Under 15 squad were
contesting the National Cross Country Championships. Undefeated this
season and with two national relay titles secured they were considered
one of the favourites. However, their strong run of success came to an
end when they finished third behind two powerful Southern teams. David
Forrester(14), Jake Helm(15), Chris Hesketh(46) and Mike Bride(87)
looked a trifle disappointed but that is only because of the very high
standards they have set themselves this season. They were supported by
the usual back up of Sean Dignam(131), Paul Roberts(141) and Chris
Hatton(158). Arguably the best run of the day came from Andrew Bowen who
was 26th in the Under 17 race and who is rounding into fine form for his
summer steeplechase plans. Rob McLaughlin(145) was again in attendance.
Danny Gordon(121) was a lone competitor in the Under 20 race but the
club managed to complete a team at Under 13 in the shape of Kyle
Nicholls(104), Adam Goldfarb(159), Matthew Scragg(210) and Will
Turner(223).
Kirsty Longley continues to surprise and in finishing 103rd in the
Senior Women's race was close to getting inside the classy first 100
competitors home. Steph Swift grows in stature almost every time out and
in the Under 20 race was 68th with June Swift tracking her closely at
73rd. June's real aim is to tackle the club 800m record during the
summer campaign. LPS were unable to finish a team at Under 15 but Emma
Bowen(94) had a strong run followed by Emma Binns(132) and Toria
Swift(157).
Report Charles Gains
National Cross Championships Results
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Phil Taylor strikes gold in Europeans 4 March
 Local
athletics fans were glued to their television sets last weekend watching
the European Indoor Championships at the Birmingham Indoor Arena. The
Liverpool Pembroke Sefton star had received his first full international
call up to represent Great Britain in the 4 x 400m relay team. As often
happens in this event there was plenty of drama. Britain's Number 1, Rob
Tobin, led at the first take over. Dale Garland yielded a couple of
places but sent Phil Taylor away third. Running very strongly Taylor not
only held his position but managed a slick baton change to jump final
stage runner Steve Green into second spot. On the final bend Green
managed to stay out of trouble as a German athlete pushed a Russian out
of the way to stride home first. Green rounded the Russian for a
wonderful silver spot. But it wasn't over, a protest against the German
was upheld and this gave the British squad the much coveted title. Phil
`The Power' Taylor as he is known to his mates, and describing himself
as the new guy on the team, had his hands on a brilliant gold medal. It
was the finale to a very successful weekend for Great Britain athletes.
Elsewhere the cross country season is winding itself down before the
National Championships at Sunderland. Blackburn was the scene of a Mid-Lancs
Cross Country League match. Best performances came from Steph Swift who
had previously gained a Lancashire vest and who was second in this
Junior race. June Swift and Lindsay Nadin provided good back up to win
the team race. Kirsty Longley has had a phenomenal season and starting
as a novice in the Senior Women she too has collected a Merseyside
County vest and here was 6th in a large field. Emma Binns had another
sound run(12) in the Under 15 race while Kyle Nicholls is beginning to
impress(9) in the Under 13 Boys.
Report Charles Gains |
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