Open meeting is next step to normality for Eastbourne athletes

Eastbourne Rovers Athletic club are so pleased to be training back at the Eastbourne Sports Park.
Bradley EisnorBradley Eisnor
Bradley Eisnor

Some athletes managed to keep up their training during lockdown and were on their marks getting ready for when any competitions were organised.

The Worthing Open Meeting provided the first test of fitness and, although events and numbers were restricted, a warm balmy evening gave Eastbourne athletes a very successful outing, showing no loss of speed as they produced good times and even some personal bests.

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The first race saw Dylan Brudenell clock a fantastic 12.3 secs for a personal best knocking .3 of a second off his best. Another personal best came in the same race with team mate Jahziah Williams (T38) who sprinted through in 13.13 an improvement of .2 of a sec.

Jahziah WilliamsJahziah Williams
Jahziah Williams

V40 Dan Sheppard kept in touch in his race with his clocking of 12.9sec. There were 12 races of 100m, seeded according to previous best times. Senior Bradley Eisnor was thrilled with his evening’s performances, running a personal best in 11.17. Joe Morris crossed the line in 11.7secs. Eisnor also leapt a massive 6.89m for another PB in the long jump.

Bailey Wright had already blasted out of the blocks in a race at Lee Valley the week before, running 10.78 secs. This time he shaved off still more with a brilliant 10.74 sec, the third fastest time of the evening. Shania Martlew was very close to dipping under 13 seconds, recording 13.03 secs and Harriet Armstrong came through in 13.28 sec.

With no 400m races on offer, Moyo Sargent and Rose Chaplin used the 200m as an opportunity to do some speed work. This has certainly not been lost as Sargent recorded 22.8 secs and Chaplin 28.8 secs both close to their PBs.

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Williams and Martlew tackled both sprints and both showed strength and good technique crossing the line in 27.44 and 26.6 respectively – again both near their bests from last season.

Eastbourne athletes are now hoping there will be the opportunity to step onto the track again before winter training starts in October.

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