Masters Athletics World Championships from Malaga September 2018

 

Kath Stewart is the world champion for V70 in the 400 metres – with senior coach Ron Stewart

 

Another championship win for Guy Bracken with a gold in 1500 metres at V 55.

 

Sprint Reporter Paul Dodds :
Week one at the World Masters Athletics Championship in Malaga where over 8000 athletes from over 100 countries are competing.
Ron, Kath and I arrived on Monday and after dropping off our cases we headed directly to the main stadium to register. We picked up our numbers, travel passes and confirmed events.
Ron was up first, racing in the 5000m walk on the track at the University Sports Centre. Unfortunately he was disqualified after two red cards in what is a very technical event.

Ron Stewart in the 5 k walk – but unusually not quite getting it right today !

 

Next it was my turn for the 100m heats. So with me feeling a little nervous we all set off to the main stadium. Ron was great at helping me relax and warm up. Then it was off to the call room to be led out onto the track. Time to set up the blocks and get ready to go. I finished 5th in my heat in a time of 12.39 seconds but though very happy with my time, I wasn’t quick enough to make the semi finals.
Friday, and it was time for the 200m heats with both Kath and myself racing. Kath at Carranque Sports Centre and me at the University. Kath ran a great race finishing second in 38.68 seconds and heading to the finals on Sunday where she came 4th in 38.49 seconds. Well done, Kath.
I ran in heat 4 of 10 and finished 5th with a pb of 24.93 seconds. Really happy to break 25 seconds.
Andrew Webb is here too, racing over hurdles. In the 300m hurdles heats he finished 3rd in a time of 55.54 seconds. Well done, Andrew.

Kath Stewart bears down on the line and a win in the 400 m

 

Three Spaniards in the ladies 800m semi final – but it is the GB vest of  Lourdes Bradleyleading the way in the 800m

 

Week two of the World Masters Athletics Championship in Malaga and it gets even better.
Ron got the week started again, this time in the 10k road race walk. Unfortunately this too finished in disqualification with under 2k to go so a second big disappointment.
Monday saw Lourdes run in the 800m semifinals at Carranque Sports Centre where she finished 7th with a new PB of 2:32.46. Well done, Lourdes.

Success ! As the Ice Man keps cool after 1500 m of hard running in Spain’s heat

 

Tuesday morning and Kath was in the 800m final, finishing 5th in a time of 2:39.54.
In the evening the 400m heats took place with both myself and Lourdes taking part. Lourdes was up first in heat 3 where she finished 5th in a time of 65.33 seconds. Then came my turn in heat 7 where I finished 6th in 57.83 seconds.
Thursday saw the Poly’s first medal of the Championship as Guy secured a bronze in the 5000m in a time of 16:33.33. Well done, Guy.
On Friday something special happened. Kath Stewart set off early with Ron to get ready for the 400m final at the University Sports Centre. On a wet track, in lane 3, she got off to a great start making up the stagger on the other competitors by 200m. But had she set off too fast? Could the ladies from Australia and New Zealand catch her? Of course not! She finished strong and secured the gold medal in 1:28.11. Well done, Kath!

Paul Dodds has  more work to do as he accelerates the straight  in the 100m

 

Andrew Webb was racing over the 80m hurdles finishing 3rd in a time of 15.52 seconds and qualifying for the final where he finished 6th in a time of 14.84. Well done, Andrew.
Saturday and Guy was up again, this time in the 1500m where in the heats he finished 1st in a time of 4:37.87 qualifying for the final on Sunday. In the final he finished 1st getting a gold medal in a time of 4:30.10. Well done, Guy!

Scottish Commonwealth Games athlete Andrew Webb gets into his stride in the 80m

 

 

What a fantastic experience this whole fortnight has been, competing against the best in the world. I think we all did the Poly proud! Well done to everyone. Especially Guy and Kath, our medal winners!

 

 

Author: Paul Dodds