July Update: Classic summer of action continues apace

OpenTrack-based competition thrives all over Europe

As we enter into the heart of the 2023 Track and Field season, OpenTrack is savouring its packed schedule of athletics for July and looking ahead to August.

After 580 competitors ran in four races over Trail and mountain in the European Off Road running championships in Abelboden, Switzerland, the focus switched to the International Island Games in Guernsey. It was a thriving 6-day competition with plenty of spark and quality as 17 year old Jónas Gunnleivsson Isaksen raced to a 97% age graded 46.02 for the 400. 18 year old Eiri Jógvansson Glerfoss also turned heads with a 10.58 for the 100.

Another huge meeting was the Welsh Schools Championships in Aberdare, where 614 competitors returned many outstanding results. There were no fewer than 52 different events to savour and OpenTrack’s results system handled them smoothly. There were five instances of age-gradings in the rarefied heights of the 90+ percentile, those of 15 year old Evan Goodwin with an 11.37 [100], Cohan Price, also 15 with 22.82 [200] and also a fine 2:02.67 for Rhodri Amos [14] in the 800.

The success of the UK NAL [National Athletics League] continues apace and really does look to have firm foundations now, and its future assured in the calendar. In round two, no fewer than 1292 competitors struck some 2689 runs, jumps and throws as the more advanced club athletes got a “taste of the big time”.

The Social media sharing of OpenTrack’s fine graphics is now being used liberally by the clubs. Here’s a post from Belgrave Harriers speaking of their delight at the topping the table in Yeovil.

Here’s how the 2nd Premiership match turned out, with Thames Valley Harriers drawing level with Harrow going into the final fixture. Thames are searching for a hat-trick of NAL wins:

Elsewhere, there was a very successful meeting at the St John Athletic Track in Malta with 180 competitors, whilst 171 fought over the sprints night at Lee Valley. There was action in Guernsey for the Aztec Track and Field Series, a night of triple jumping in Brighton, and the Finsbury Night of the 5000s where 208 came searching for PBs.

Bislett Stadium saw OpenTrack on hand to produce the entries and results for the Nordic U20 match, with 289 results logged, and over at the Atleski Stadion Kraljevo there was a hugely busy meeting, that of the Balkan Senior Championships.

And there is much to savour going forward, including:

Tracksmith London Twilight 5000 - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The organizer’s description of this reads:

What began as a low-key 5K on the esplanade in Boston has grown to become an international series of track meets featuring the same accessible distance and the same incredible grassroots vibe, with paced races for runners of all abilities in 20 cities across the US, Mexico, Canada and the UK. Whether you’re stepping down in distance from a spring marathon or if track is your focal point this year, these races bring out the best of the running community: competition, camaraderie and fast times under the lights. Be there!

No fewer than 312 competitors are down to compete over 9 different races.

With the University of Birmingham’s Track and Field festival incoming at the end of July, plus more major meets happening in Kraljevo, Malta and the BFTTA OUTDOOR SERIES 4 at the Lee Valley, there is little let up in OpenTrack athletics competition - and a brief glance at August shows there will be no let up!