News
BUSA Indoor Success
The Squad of 13 athletes travelled to the EIS Sheffield to compete in the BUSA indoor championships. The expectations were low and everyone had there own aims for the event as they were to compete with the best athletes in the country.
Left to Right: Dan Strang, Jack Bancroft, Sherrie Dance, Neil Mc Daid, Sally Kirk, Ash Barker, Becky Courtenay, David Cook, Sarah Warsop, James Warsop, Mat David, Mat Parnall.
In the 60m James Warsop clocked a time of 7.39 just outside his personal best whilst Mat Davies clocked and impressive 7.20 to progress to the semi-finals where he ran 7.13. In the woman's race Sally Kirk ran a personal best of 8.18 progressing through to the semi-finals but unfortunately could not progress further whilst Becky Courtenay ran 8.40 in the first of her sprint events.
In the 200m Mat Parnall in his first BUSA's ran 25.6 whilst captain Neil McDaid stepped in for injured Tom Charnock running 27.50 almost beaten by Becky Courtenay who ran 27.92.
The 400m gave Dan Strang his BUSA debut running 55.88 whilst Becky Courtenay in her third sprint event ran 65.71.
In the 1500m Jack Bancroft ran 4.12.39 to easily progress to the semi-finals, in doing so withdrew from the 800m to attempt to make the final. In the fastest semi-final he ran 4.06.81 this was the 11th fastest time of the meet and missed the 10 place final cut off by 0.03 of a second, less than a photo finish.
The women's 3000m saw Sherrie Dance make her debut but did not progress further.
The 4x200m was possibly the teams best hope for points coming into the event after last years success finishing 8th. Unfortunately Mat Davies hamstring had re-cramped for the race so was unable to run so Mat Parnall stepped in to fill his leg. First leg runner James Warsop clocked an impressive 23 seconds from the gun, whilst Dave Cook ran an unofficial pb in the 22 seconds. Ashley Barker who carried an injury running with a strapped knee ran 24 seconds and anchor leg and newest member of the team finished the relay by running a 25 lap. The team clocked 1.35.12
Sarah Warsop was the only women field athlete. In the long jump she recorded 4.95m and in the tripple jump she jumped 10.05 finishing 9th just outside the BUSA points.
Long jump produced one of the most anxious events for the team. James Warsop was unlucky not to qualify with 6.13m ranking him 13 missing the final by 7cm. David Cook after a foul in the first round jumped 6.63 to qualify with his second jump to the final, where in the first round he jumped 7.12m only 6cm off his pb. He lead until the penultimate round where three people jumped ahead of him. In the last round he jumped what must have been a 7.30 jump but fowled the jump by literally mm on the board, having lead from the off this was literally gutting to the team and we hope he can go one better for the outdoors and take a medal he deserves.
The high jump seems to be an event Exeter are competing with high expectations, captain Neil McDaid jumped 1.85m finishing fifth whilst Ashley Barker jumped 1.90m, when he reached 1.95m he jumped clear but took the bar off with his legs on the way down costing him the silver medal and a pb.
Overall the men's team finished 10th and overall the team finished a respectable 13th.
We congratulate the team on there Bronze medal and there success and commiserate those that were so close to finals and medals and look forward to the BUSA outdoor championships in May where they have the opportunity to go one better and show they should have been there.
UWIC
Congratulations to the team on a fantastic day :
Dave Cook : 60m 7.15 sec pb 200m 23.00 sec sb
James Warsop : 60m 7.34 sec pb L.J 6.17
Sarah Warsop : L.J 4.94 s.b
Jack Bancroft : 1500m 4.07.61 p.b
Ash Barker: H.J 1.90 s.b
the video is in the video gallery