It has been many years since a Wallasey A.C. athlete has been accepted in the national championships for a track race.
At Warley last week, Wallasey sprinter Pete Jones ended this embarrassing record.
The national championships are like no other event in this country. For most races the athlete merely enters in advance and runs on the day. In the nationals, however, one has to be accepted after entering the event by stating previous perfor-mances. To run at all in this event is an honour. Pete ran in this race, the national junior 400m championship, is a peak to what has been a very good season in the 400m. He has reduced his personal best time by nearly a second. It was already a good time, now it would demand respect at any club in the country.
His run was not a good one by his own standards. He failed to qualify for the finals, clocking 52.0 seconds. This compares with, his personal best of 51.5 seconds. Pete is 19 and so moves up to the senior age group next year. If he continues the same progress his will be a name to remember. The previous week one of our younger stars clocked a personal best in the colts' 800m. Phil D'Arcy broke the 2 min 30 second barrier. Throughout the season, Phil, has reduced his time by leaps and bounds. His new time, 2 min 29.6 seconds, is quite exceptional for someone aged 11.
In this race, Phil's brother, Steve, still at the tender age of 10, ran at an equally good time of 2 min 45 seconds. Between the two of them those two should solve Wallasey A.C.'s 800m problems for many years to come.
However, the club is always ready to welcome anyone interested in any department.
The club runs teams in all age groups, male and female, in track and field athletics, road relays and cross-country.
Anyone interested should contact the club coach Doug Hanna (638 0296), or any regular club member.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 14/08/1976
Ref 1915