The track season opened with a bang, at Kirkby Stadium last Sunday afternoon.
Although not the best of conditions for track events, too cold to warm up sufficiently performances were well up to standard for the time of the year.
By far the best performance for Wallasey came from 11-year-old Philip D'Arcy in the 1500 m., the so-called 'metric mile'.
From the start of the race Phil showed that he was determined to run well and led the field of 12 for most of the race; being instrumental in making a breakaway group of four runners.
He finished strongly in second position, being only seconds adrift of the winner; a little more race experience should see plenty of wins for him.
Running in a higher age group race, Paul Delap was our only other 1500 m. runner. Here again, lack of track experience was his letdown losing contact early on and allowing a group to get away too far to be able to close in and pass.
All of the sprinters ran strongly but showed signs of lack of speed and block practice. This, though, was expected at this time of year. Winter training and stamina work has only just finished, the change to speed work being in the process of being made. The speed is required for the major races in mid-May and June.
Not to be outdone by the boys, the girls ran equally well. Knocking 30 seconds of their previous best times for the 800 metres, two laps of the track, Joanne Macdonald and Carole Jenkinson ran extremely well, surprising themselves in the process.
The major faults for all the Wallasey runners were lack of race, and competitive experience and lack of speed work, both of which are easily corrected.
Full results of the Wallasey athletes are:-
Youths 3,000 metres (7½ laps) Rick Hemmings, 9th, 10min 04 secs.; Kevin McGee, 11th, 10min 09secs.; Dave Southern, 12th, 10min. 16secs.; Keith McAlister, 16th 11min. 08secs.
Boys 1,500 metres (3½ laps) Paul Delap, 6th, 4min. 57.6secs.
Colts 1,500 metres: Phil D'Arcy, 2nd, 5min. 21.3secs.
Girls 800 metres (2 laps) :Carole Jenkinson, 7th, 2min. 50.9secs. Joanne McDonald, 3rd, 2min. 41.6secs.
Inter Girls 800 metres: Christine McGee, 11th, 2min. 50secs.
Boys 100 metres: Andrew Michael, 3rd, 13.7secs.
Youths 100 metres: Michael Michael, 3rd, 12.9secs.
Junior 100 metres: Dave McAlister, 4th, 12.5 secs.
Girls 100 metres: Race 1- Lynn Jenkinson, 3rd, 14.2secs.: Race 2 - Lovila Harrison, 3rd, 15.5secs. Race 3 - Paula Huston, 4th,
16.2secs.: Race 4 - Janet McGee, 6th. 16.0secs.
Inter girls 100 metres: Christine McGee, 7th, 15.5secs.
In order that you are aware of the ages of the athlete's taking part, allow me to explain the age groupings given above.
Colts and girls - 11 and 12 years old on September 1st, 1976.
Boys' and junior girls - 13 and 14 years old on September 1st, 1976. Youths and inter Girls - 15 and 16 years old on September 1st, 1976.
Pete Jones is running at Cosford indoor track (200 m. per lap) on Friday, March 19, in the indoor championships. He is the present club record holder for the junior indoor and outdoor 400 m. and has produced a personal best performance at each outing during the current indoor season. We wish him luck and another personal best.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 20/03/1976 by DH
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