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Outdoor Track & Field 2024 Report

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Outdoor Track & Field Season 2024 Report:

There have been many successes over the Track & Field Season and our definition of Success is very broad, as we have young athletes within the group who do athletics for a vast number of different reasons: to remain fit and healthy; to develop Run, Jump and throw skills; to help with their other main priority sports; to be socially part of a training group; to try and become an elite athlete………..etc etc

It goes without saying that I cannot highlight every success in this report, as it would take far too long to do so. What I will do, is try and highlight the successes that I believe are closely linked to the UK Athletics Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTADM). This Model is the cornerstone of our Coaching & Training Philosophy and is understood and adhered to, in it’s entirety.

So let me start with four very “long term successes” that I am very proud of, but before I do so, can I thank Bill (S&C), Adrian (Physio) and Ollie (Podiatry) for their excellent input into making all these successes happen.

Harry Miller Reedman is in full-time work and has other social commitments, but continues to train and coach within the group. For somebody who has competed in Octathlon at National level, his presence and input into the group is exemplary and inspiring. I know how much the group enjoy and respect his presence when he is training:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=522081

Evie Wild continues to study in the US on a Full scholarship and she brought her 800m time down to 2.09 recently! It’s not just about the Athletic achievements, it’s also about the life experiences you can gain through Athletics. I cannot be more proud of this individual and what she continues to achieve:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=554438

Rhys Watson has broken into the first team squad at Stockport County and made his debut in the Carabao Cup. Rhys went to numerous Combined Events National competitions whilst he was training with the group. He still dips into Athletics whenever he can and is Greater Manchester Javelin bronze medalist in his age group!:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=780575

Josh Walton In full-time work and has now achieved his first Marathon at 23 years old in an excellent time! An absolutely fabulous life-style transformation, example and role model!

https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=526211

From a Coaching perspective I am extremely pleased with the results being produced through the Process that I work and adhere to consistently and for “All the right reasons” from an “ATHLETE CENTRED” perspective. My license is issued to me by UK Athletics and they advocate the LTADM. This is a page from that document:

All athletes joining the group follow the LTADM. In other words they all do Run, Jump and Throw until they are 16 years old. If you draw lines down from 9-16 years of age you will hit the “Sports Focus” of “Multi-activity” & “Multi-event”. For extremely obvious reasons, which I won’t go into, our young athletes are not allowed to early specialise. As a result, No Long term, event opportunities are denied to them and their long term health and fitness is also being developed and fully considered as an "athlete centred" objective. We don’t pick and choose which fitness components we work on, but work on all the components that define fitness: Speed, Flexibility, Coordination, Strength and ENDURANCE!

Considering many factors such as: the limited time invested into the Sport by many in the group; that limited time being spread across a multitude of events (quite rightly) and thankfully NOT into early specialisation and into a few events; the disruption to training from academic, sporting, family, other activity commitments; the local state of Athletics ……….etc etc etc The results, in my opinion, are nothing other than Outstanding:

U13 Girls:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U13&sex=W&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • Bella Heap in her first Outdoor T&F season and in the first year of her age group is the best Pentathlete at the club.
  • Zari Daniels is the youngest athlete (First year U11) and it is very evident to see that she is keeping to the LTADM. As an U11 she has competed in all the T&F events available to her and despite being in the first year of her Cross Country age group, she has already been very successful in her first two races of the season (1st & 2nd). All 5 fitness components are being developed. Multi-eventing is being adhered to from a very early age!
  • Bella Heap is U13 Greater Manchester Bronze medalist in the 75m & 150m.

U13 Boys:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U13&sex=M&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • Only 3 Boys have achieved a Pentathlon this Summer Arthur Campbell, Rowan Trollope & Robbie Winthorpe and they are all from our Training group!
  • Arthur is Greater Manchester Long Jump & High Jump Champion and Bronze medalist in the Hurdles!
  • Rowan is Cheshire Shot put Champion!
  • Robbie is Cheshire Silver medalist in the Javelin and he was joined by Rowan on the podium who won the Bronze medal!
  • Arthur is joint holder of the High Jump record at Stockport Harriers!
  • Arthur is Long Jump Champion in the Northern region!
  • Flynn Sharpe, the youngest in the age group is competing in what is available to him during Outdoor Track and Field season and like Zari has just commenced his Cross Country season with two top 10 results. Impressive as he too as a Combined Eventer is in the first year of his Cross Country age group!

U15 Girls:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U15&sex=W&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • Only 2 Girls have achieved a Pentathlon this Summer Abbie Fitzgerald & Imogen Garnett. Both are in the first year of the age group and both are from our group!
  • Abbie was selected and represented Greater Manchester at ESAA Regionals & Nationals in the U15 Girls Pentathlon!
  • I am particularly pleased, as COMBINED EVENTERS, with the UK Rankings achieved by Imogen in the 800m & 1500m and Abbie in the 800m!

U15 Boys:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U15&sex=M&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • Will Edwards is in the first year of the age group and he is the only boy at the club who has achieved a Pentathlon!

U17 Girls:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U17&sex=W&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • Flic Thelwell is in the first year of the age group and is the only STOCKPORT HARRIER to achieve a Heptathlon 3 times over the Summer!

U17 Boys:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglists.aspx?clubid=1291&agegroups=U17&sex=M&year=2024&firstclaimonly=y&limits=n

  • William Jones is in the first year of the age group and having achieved 3 Octathlons this Summer, is the best Octathlete at the club!
  • William is Greater Manchester Silver medalist in High Jump & Long Jump and Bronze medalist in the Hurdles!
  • William won Silver in the 400m at the Greater Manchester schools T&F Championships and then represented Greater Manchester Schools at the Mason Trophy in the same event!
  • William was one of only two Boys to be selected to represent Greater Manchester in the ESAA Combined Events Regionals in the U17 Boys Octathlon!
  • I am particularly pleased, as a COMBINED EVENTER, with William's UK Rankings in the 400m!

As I stated earlier, there are many more indicators of Success that I am very proud of: Athletes competing for the first time; athletes competing in new events; athletes wanting to commit more to the sport by increasing their training over the years……………etc etc etc

I am always asking my group to focus on getting their PROCESS right, so that the very Obvious OUTCOMES above are achieved. As a Coach, I work to a PROCESS and continually look to improve it, with “Athlete Centred” Outcomes in mind. I will try to improve the results even further, by trying to get as many young people involved in athletics and as many of them competing for ALL THE RIGHT REASONS!

2021 a very successful year !

Monday, January 17, 2022

 

Despite continued disruption from the Pandemic to both Training & Competition the group performed extremely well on a multitude of fronts. I will leave the results speak for themselves through the links below. However, as a group  that is not elitist in any way, I don't think I should define success purely in terms of performances in a vast array of different events/competitions. That can easily be defined through the links below.

Success to me as the lead coach of the group has a much broader definition:

- How many athletes are training with the group and keeping themselves Fit (through all 5 fitness components) and healthy?

- How many athletes are in the Sport for the long term and leave the group to go to University still involved in Athletics at whatever level?

- Apart from the above how many athletes use the group for social / friendship purposes whilst working on their fitness?

- Being still in the middle of a Pandemic are we providing an activity / information that boosts, bolsters, makes more resilient, robust our immune systems? Remember a healthy immune system is what will come first, before any vaccination program for future Viruses / Pandemics!

- I am very proud, that as a group, we have kept to the restrictions and have kept our young athletes on the go throughout the Pandemic, despite any "hurdles" sensible or ridiculous that have been put in our way. Throughout the Pandemic we have very much worked on the following with those who have committed to training consistently through the work and messages that we deliver on a daily basis to the group:

Healthy ways to strengthen your immune system
  1. Don't smoke.
  2. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Maintain a healthy weight.
  5. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
  6. Get adequate sleep................Etc etc

- Through sticking closely to the Long Term Athlete Development model a number of benefits continue to be provided to all athletes who are part of the group - Run, Jump, Throw skills are developed for ALL Sports; No event opportunities are missed through late specialisation as opposed to early specialisation; mental / physical burnout risk is reduced due to the variety of our training ...........etc etc etc

- We use an underutilised local training facility and pretty much have it to ourselves most of the time before other groups turn up in the evenings to use it.

I could go on but I will stop there. I am extremely Proud of the successes below which are just a select few of many, but my point is that SUCCESS to me comes in a very vast manner of forms!

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=PenU13W&agegroup=U13&sex=W&year=2021

https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=634833

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=JT800&agegroup=U20&sex=M&year=2021&areaid=63

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=JT400&agegroup=U13&sex=M&year=2021&areaid=63

https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=413269&event=PenU13W&venue=Kilmarnock&date=11-Jul-21

https://www.thepowerof10.info/rankings/rankinglist.aspx?event=LJ&agegroup=U15&sex=M&year=2021&areaid=63

The list is far more extensive than the above, but I have to stop somewhere and I just hope our multi-event approach to success is done justice by the above limited selection of performances!

The 2020 T&F season coming to an end!

Thursday, October 8, 2020

At one point in time, it didn't look as if there was going to be any opportunity for our young athletes to compete this year, due to the Pandemic. As such, I am very grateful to Trafford AC for all the meetings they have laid on since the beginning of August. Our group have gradually built up their fitness through training since May and as a result a number of PBs were achieved this Summer across a large number of events. As a group which follows the Long Term Athlete Development Model, the highlight was last weekend when our athletes, if they were ready, had the opportunity to do Pentathlons, Heptathlons & Octathlons. Our T&F season will end this coming weekend, strangely in the middle of October, as some of our U11/U13s compete in an Open meeting at Trafford.

The times ahead, with regard to competition are unclear with regard to the Cross Country & Indoor Seasons, but as has been the case over the last 5 months, I will try as lead coach to keep training as close to normality as possible, so that when Competition opportunities present themselves, we are able to get involved and take advantage of them.

I'd like to thank all those who continue to support the group in moving forwards in a positive manner despite all the restrictions, obstacles placed in our way. We will continue to find solutions to problems and will continue to find the reasons to do, as opposed to the excuses not to do. From the very outset it was said that the adverse effects of Lockdown would completely outweight those created by the Pandemic. I will continue to try my very best, for as long as is feasibly possible, to not allow this to be the case for the young people who continue to come along this currently very bumpy athletic journey with the group.

Finally, below are the reports from last weekend's Combined Events Competition. Hopefully, loads of learning took place and an excellent Sporting & Life experience was gained!!

Trafford Combined Events - Day 1 report:
 
Congratulations to all those who competed out there today. We didn't really discuss the Weather, as there was nothing we could do about it and it was the same for everyone. It was however dire and far from conducive to producing good results.
I was really pleased with the fact that Rhys competed in his first Pentathlon, starting off with his first attempt at Sprint Hurdling. A tough, challenging experience that I think all young Sportsmen should put themselves through.
Harry put in a solid performance across his 4 events on the first day of his Octathlon and will pick things up again tomorrow. There are unfortunately, only four U20 athletes competing, a great shame! H is sat in second place having won both the discus and javelin events on Day 1. He starts tomorrow with the 110m hurdles.
Esther also had a good first day and achieved two PBs in Hurdles & Shot. She continues her heptathlon tomorrow in 4th place and has a good chance of closing in on the top three with 3 of her stronger events!
Molly as, a first year U13, competing for the first time in a Pentathlon, has done outstandingly well. She achieved a PB in her hurdles, gained a points total that is a UK ranking for Pentathlon and I will be submitting the result to SHAC as I believe it to be a Club record as well! Taking into consideration the T&F season that "we have not had", her very limited experience, her age and the conditions, I don't think I have exaggerated in any way by using the word outstanding!
Stewart & I are proud of all our group, including Jacob & Lauren who were there competing in 800s and giving it their all.
Stew & I would like to thank the parent group for their support in achieving such fabulous experiences/memories for our young group of athletes. It was also great to see Jen being an official at the event. No officials = No event, it is as simple as that! So thank you from all our competitors Jen!
Finally, thank you to our official photographer on the day - Joelinho - for the fabulous images from Day 1!
Really looking forward to Day 2!
 
 
Trafford Combined Events - Day 2 report:
 
Esther produced a strong 800m at the end of a gruelling two days of competition to produce a Uk ranking overall points total and finish second in her competition, whilst Harry, with all the changes that come with first time competition as an U20, produced two PBs on his second day. Particularly impressive was the 2 second PB in the 1500m!
Combined Events is a tremendous learning experience from many different perspectives. It is down to the individual to make the changes they need to make to progress further. I think these two young athletes have a lot more progress coming their way, if they are able to continue to learn and change for the better. Congratulations Esther & Hulley from the whole group!
 
 

Facemasks for General Public use

Monday, May 11, 2020

During this Lockdown period, when I have been forced into not being able to coach athletics, I took the opportunity to reestablish business contacts from my past.

I am importing face masks, for use by the General Public, from the EU. The Manufacturer’s description of their product is on the attachment below and the facemasks come in a multitude of colours, beyond what is shown.

I currently have a very limited stock, as the demand for the product from the manufacturer is great and the supply is limited, by the fact that the country is in strict Lockdown and their employees cannot get into work. As they come out of lockdown supply will increase and I will have more stock to work with. There are also delays in Transport of the Goods to the UK. Orders can take up to 2 weeks to arrive in the UK.

The Facemasks are washable & re-usable and will be sold on a first come first served basis for £5 GBP. In order for an Order to be placed, an upfront payment needs to be made.

Once a mask is purchased it is non-returnable / non-refundable as it is potentially contaminated through handling and wearing.

If you are interested in purchasing a facemask for every day use please contact me via email:

andrew.mihranian@hotmail.co.uk

Stay active, stay well, stay safe.