New personal bests for Elite Athletes at B+B Open

Bangalas dip under 59 seconds in Bromley 400m

Chengelo's Elite Squad made a long trip to Norman Park for the Blackheath and Bromley Open Meeting on Monday 10th August. Conditions were perfect, preparations had gone well and Chigo, Maria and Johanna took advantage of these factors to put on some gutsy performances that will live long in the memory.

Mr Jamie Dickson took the group for their warm-up as the spectators watched the 100m heats and got the athletes limber and ready for their races. As the boys' 400m race started, Johanna and Maris calmed themselves by committing their races to God. Johanna also said this helps to calm her down and soon they found themselves on the start line.

The first race saw Maria and Johanna up against a strong field in the 400m, including under-17 800m British number one Katy-Ann McDonald. An incredibly exciting race culminated with Johanna 0.3 seconds behind Katy-Ann McDonald at the finish line but with a new personal best time of 58.20 seconds. Maria followed closely behind, smashing her previous best time by over 1.3 seconds. Her new personal best time of 58.89 was achieved with a superb last 200m.

Chigo was also focused for his only race of the night but looked mentally and physically prepared. He had a tough act to follow, but showed maturity as he paced his 800m race well, passing athletes on the final lap to record a time of 2 minutes 6.42 seconds, a season's best. He is coming into form and with two good times in the 800m and 1500m in the past week, will hope to secure new personal best times in both events before the end of the trip.

The 200m heats then took place under the floodlights. Johanna was placed in a fast heat and ran a time of 26.40 seconds despite being tired from her 400m race less than 30 minutes before. Maria then followed suit, clocking 27.03 seconds in her heat. Both girls' times were half a second slower than their personal bests.

The athletes are now in high spirits ahead of their much-anticipated trip to Woking on Wednesday and will look to obtain even faster times in front of former Chengelo staff members Mollie and Trevor Roff.