• Press Report 2nd February 2009

    Ilford AC had 5 runners in the Southern Masters Cross Country Championships held held at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire on Saturday. Bree Nordin did exceptionally well in the womens race which was combined with the over 70s men. Nordin placed 35th overall in a field of 139 runners and her time of 26mins and 44 seconds over the 6 kilometre course was good enough for an excellent 11th place in her over 50's age category.
    Later on Andy Catton led an over 50's team comprising Chris Togwell and John Mackenzie to 11th place out of 17 teams in the combined 50 and 60 plus men. Catton was far from happy with his performance after yet his time over the 10k course was 38.15 and place him 31st out of 105. Togwell followed him home in 43rd clocking 39.32 with Mackenzie closing in 99th with 47.40. 2nd claimer, Iain Campbell, was out running for Metropolitan police in the over 40's race where he clocked 33.51 to lead his club home. 
     
    On Sunday Ilford's Keith Ennis had to contend with some artic conditions plus some 10 degree hills at the notorious tough Watford half marathon. Ennis came in at 1:32:27, a fine time reflecting his desire to get back to the clubhouse before the snow settled .
     
    GIWA BACK TO HER BEST- report by Paul Cheal
     
    On Sunday Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Centre hosted the first London Games event which spanned the whole day from 9.30am finishing at  9.15pm. Lucky the Ilford AC athletes only competed until 7.40pm much to relief of the coach phew only 10 hours at the centre anybody would think I loved it there. Ilford had 8 athletes taking part in numerous events from sprints to hurdles, high jump and long jump.
     
    Rachel Giwa in the U/20 Women ran in 2 events the 60m and 200m. In the 60m's her first race had her power towards a good time of: 7.70sec but this was vastly improved in her second race over the same distance coming home first again in a time that equalled her PB of: 7.65s, so this would suggest she is coming back to form at the right time.
     
    In the U/17 Men Kofi Gibbons Jeffers competed in the 60m hurdles and sprints. The first race 60m hurdles: 9.44sec but this was bettered in the next with an excellent time of: 9.28sec which was a PB. In the 60m sprints he was again on fire running: 7.50sec and then completing a double PB with a time of: 7.41sec. Laibah Malik in the U/17 Women ran the 60m sprint as well with good times of: 9.26 & 9.27sec respectively. Gloria Alabi did the same with: 8.30s & 8.29sec. Melodie Ihouma did the double like Rachel and ran: 8.31sec in the first race of the sprints and recorded the exact same time in the second race, whilst late in the day she did the 200m in a time of: 28.sec. Ebuka Nwadiegwu competing for the first time ran the 60m sprint in: 8.47sec and smashed that time in the next race with: 8.37sec. Whilst Melodie was running her brother Healson Ihuoma competed in the U/20 Men's Long Jump and he did not disappoint with a good sequence of jumps that lead him to finish in 3rd place with a fine jump of: 6m 38cm, whilst Simeon Stuart did the same event and came away with 4th place and: 6m 32cm. Last to compete was Elijah Collins in the U/20 Men High Jump. Although not having a proper winter season behind him due to other commitments he was able to equal his PB with a leap of: 1m 75cm, which just goes to show that with some real hard training and working on his technique who knows how high he can jump.
     
    These performances all look good for 2 weeks time when these athletes will be taking part in either the Indoor AAA's at Birmingham or the Essex Indoor's at Lee Valley.