60th Loughborough International Athletics Meeting
The 60th edition of the prestigious Loughborough International Athletics meeting , held on Sunday 20th May welcomed the largest ever contingent of Southampton athletes invited to compete. The meeting, involving representative teams from Great Britain, Seniors and Juniors, England, Wales, Scotland , British Universities and the hosts, Loughborough, also featured guest events for athletes considered to be of a high enough standard.
In the field, Discus throwers Phoebe Dowson was runner-up with 52.39m and Chris Scott, 4th in the men’s event heaving the Disc 55.65m on his International return.
Oliver Bromby earned his first Senior England vest, anchoring the team to a fast closing runners-up spot. Team mate Cameron Starr was just outside his seasons best with 10.84 sec in the series of guest 100m races.
Ben Claridge, representing British Universities, clocked his second fastest ever 400 metres , 46.83 sec for 3rd in the match race.
Under 20 Lynden Olowe rose to the challenge in his guest 400m. Lacking a bit of confidence against experienced senior men, Olowe was off the pace at halfway but kept his head around the final turn before unleashing a finishing drive which killed off the opposition to win going away in a lifetime best 48.31 sec.
Another youngster, Sam Costley, clocked 9:57.47 min for 12th place is a good class 3000m steeplechaser.
In the flat 3000m event, Great Britain international Mahamed Mahamed recorded a fine 8:13.34 min for 4th.
400m hurdler Lizzie Clifford showed a welcome return to form. Representing British Universities, Lizzie recorded 60.17 sec for 5th. In a tough guest race, clubmate Owen Lawrence placed 7th with his second fastest time ever, 55.04 sec.
British Athletics League team mate James Forman launched an impressive drive over the last 5 hurdles to win a close tussle in a season’s best 51.34 sec.
The sprint hurdles rounded off the Southampton interest in proceedings . Former international heptathlete Karla Drew placed 6th in the 100m hurdles, 14.40sec while in the men’s guest 110m event Matt Hewitt squeezed into 3rd with a season’s best 15.36 sec.
Report by Gary Gray