Page 5 - Summer2016Gazette

Athletics Report 5

at the IAAF Challenge meeting In the fullness of time
in Berlin. In a further triumph In battling against adversity
she signed off the season, both Adam Gemili and Dina
winning over 150m at the Great Asher Smith, the foremost
North City Games on the 8th athletes of the present era in the
September 2018. club’s history, and already an
Looking back on that heroic established presence in British
Carys Marsden about to part performance in the 200 metres athletics, have shown admirable
company with her discus (see report Dina reflected “To run 22.2 is qualities of determination and
YDL final page 16). faster than I ran last season and maturity beyond their years. In
deed it was observed that Dina
Dina missed out on that bronze close to my PB so I am over the had experienced an education
medal by 7/100ths of second moon. We’ve have had a lot of about herself and discovered
to an athlete who should have fourth places (her finish was the reserves of strength and energy
won the 400m (Miller-Uibo), fifth fourth place Great Britain she didn’t quite know she pos-
with Dina running 22.22 for have taken at these champion- sessed. They have already had
4th place and her third best ships) but they’ve come from their experience of success and
time ever. It was a classic case young people who will be at distinction in major champi-
of what might have happened many championships to come.” onships at the senior level, as
had Dina been injury free all This comment is most prescient well as facing disappointments,
season. Yet this performance especially when considering the threatening injuries and such
was outstanding whether Dina performance of another hopeful tests of character that are the
had been injured or not and Blackheath Athlete, who has refining fire which prove what
will have given her a great sense perhaps been overshadowed by true gold and genuine value
both of achievement and hope the accomplishments of Dina really are. Competing in a sport
where many careers are cut short
for the future. or Adam. Whilst not possessing by injury, or fail to realize early
Any disappointment was short- as high a profile as the leading promise with no guarantee of
players, Lorraine Ugen finished
lived as Dina ran the third leg of 11th in the Long jump following success even for the best and
the 4 x 100m relay in both the a hamstring and missing the most committed of athletes, they
qualifying rounds and the final Olympics in Rio, finished 11th know what the odds really are.
where the team recorded fantas- in the Long Jump following Yet they have been prepared to
tic times and more importantly a hamstring injury. Ugen is dedicate themselves to whatever
in the final ran the US team confident she can end her search goals they feel they can accom-
close and won silver medals. for an outdoor medal ; even if plish whether that success may
So it would be hard to describe it means breaking the seven come sooner or later.
any individual result such as meters barrier. As with heroes of recent decades
coming fourth in the 200 metres “I’m going out there trying to such as Linford Christie and
finals as a disappointment, and get a medal,” said Ugen, 25, who Dame Kelly Holmes, the best
Asher-Smith was delighted to was the only Briton to make it may yet be to come and if it
rescue something from a season through a rain-lashed qualifying means a slow steady ascent
that appeared wrecked. round with a jump of 6.65m. “I towards that ultimate summit
But from here she would go want to battle for the medals, they will regard every experience
whether in terms of winning
from strength to strength. After but I now need to hone in. medals or testing times as part
London her season concluded ….“There’s no way I get on the of the maturing process the end
on a high during which she podium if I don’t jump seven product of which will stand the
continued to turn out stellar meters. If that’s my ambition, test of time.
performances such as her 200m it has to be that.” Clearly she is
victory over Marie-Josée Ta Lou one to notice for the future. Wilfred Orton