PB's across the board!!

Wow wee & golly!! After the meeting ran late we were on the edge of darkness and under floodlights by the time our 800 runners got their chance to pull on their spikes and go to the start line. A big field of 27 meant two heats for the 97/98 girls and Lauren Hutchinson and Charlotte Rea were paired together in the first heat. Both girls were also running their second race of the day!! In school that morning they both had a run off to seek selection for the Sacred Heart team for next weeks schools T&F district heats. This isn't an easy task as the school standard is very high. Nevertheless they both qualified although the effort was sure to tell tonight. In a high quality race both settled quickly on the shoulders of the leaders and ran to the bell in under 77 seconds. As the pace intensified with 300 to go our girls pushed on and soon both were in a group of three as the sprint opened. Neither could get up and past Olivia Diamond of Balmoral but with Lauren second & Charlotte third the clock stopped at 2'35.77" and 2'35.81" respectively. We were all stunned! At the start of the current training phase 2'35" was mooted as a possible target for this season and here we were in April!! Massive PB for both. The options now are either to retire or reassess their targets!! 2'33" perhaps........ In the second heat Lucy Quinn was trying for her second PB in a week and was in a heat with Rebecca Gamble and May Morgan, both running their first 800's. Lucy did what Lucy does and what aggravates me, and tore away in the lead!! If your reading this Lucy then QUIT DOING THAT. This time it worked out and a PB of 2'43.91" was an excellent reward. It was enough to win the heat and finish 5th overall. Lucy will run quicker as the season develops. As indeed will Rebecca and May who recorded 2'59.45" & 3'13.83". Good first runs from both girls. Both will also now know there is no hiding place on the track and success is hard. I get the impression that neither are scared!! Last performer was Aislinn Crossey and by the time she got on the track darkness had arrived. It was really cool to be watching under the floodlights. Aislinn did her normal thing and followed the pace for 550 mts and then took off. An impressive win in a blistering 2'23.99" and her first time into the 23's. Aislinn's problem in running faster will be finding competition to drag the last 1% out of her. Maybe if this happens and the summer goes on the teens might be be possible. Another great night out. Again thanks to all the families who turned up to support, it really does make a difference.