Press Report 1st June 2021  

Track Academy Open Series
Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham
29th May 2021

Ilford AC Sprinters finally competed in some favourable weather at this
weekend’s open meeting in Mayesbrook Park Dagenham.
Fidunu Abidekun ran a fast 10.8 in the 100m and looks set to close in on
the club’s long standing U20M 100m record of 10.6.
Newcomer to Ilford, Elijah Mayindu, ran a swift 11.1 to break his PB by
0.4.
When the Southern League arrives, the Sprint squad looks to take aim at the
club’s SM 4x100m relay record of 42.9.
On the Women’s side, Krystle Balogun continued her progress this season
with a 200m of 26.24 and looks set to break into the 25 second region
before summer’s end.
Ellie Wright ran a legal 200m PB (27.03) despite carrying a knee injury, so
when she is fully healthy looks set to smash her PB.
The Sprinters and Jumpers look forward to competing in the Southern League
fixtures from June onwards.

Ilford’s middle distance athletes were also in action.

In the 300 metres, the Emeagi brothers went head to head over the long
sprint finishing 1st and 2nd in their race; Jacob with 40.72 and Lucas with
41.56.

The 800m competition saw Samuel Crane finish 2nd place in race 1, with a
time of 2:34:89 and Ryder Islam finish 7th in 2:46:96.

Joseph Grange, son of 800m specialist Paul Grange, ran his first ever
competitive 800m – testing himself over a new distance. Battling with
training partner Frabrizio and jostling for positions,he enjoyed the hustle
and bustle of the new event and finished 8th in 2:13.76, with Fabrizio
right on his tail in 2:14.73

Dylan Harrod was the star of the meeting over 800m with a mature and
controlled race, leading from the first lap and showing strength to extend
his lead from the rest of the field in the second. Finishing with a time of
2:05:41 – not a PB, but a very respectable time considering his dominance
of the a race and the blustery conditions.

Last up was the no.1 seeded 1500m race with 4 IAC athletes finishing in the
top 5; all running PBs for the distance – even 42 year old club veteran
Paul Grange who led from the first bend.

Paul said that he was surprised to run a PB considering all the races he
has run throughout his years as a competitive track athlete.

Paul said the plan was to run at 4 minute pace to help his fellow team
mates (Jak Wright, Bradley Deacon and Farris Patel) run fast times and see
what was possible for all of them over the last section of the race.

Jak, Paul’s son, says that at about 700m to go Dad started to develop a gap
on the second place Cambridge athlete, so he took the split decision to
overtake and try to continue drafting behind his dad. Jak kept this up till
about 100m to go when he felt fatigue set in, while the more experienced
Cambridge athlete moved back into 2nd place.

Jak pushed towards the line and was closely followed by his teammates
Bradley Deacon and Farris Patel. IAC placings and times were: Paul Grange
1st 3:57:41, Jak Wright 3rd 4:03:44, Bradley Deacon 4th 4:04:64, Farris
Patel 5th 4:04:90.