in Athenry Club News Paul Hession got his outdoor season underway yesterday with two great runs in the Powerade Great City Games in Manchester. The races took place outdoor on a specially constructed 4-lane track along Deansgate in central Manchester. Although Paul had his eyes on a place in the 150m race he eventually ended up running in both the 100m and 200m races. Given that this is a fixture which attracts the attention of the worlds top runners it is testament to Pauls running progress that he secured an entry to both of the races. In the first race of the day, the mens 100m, and Pauls less preferred distance he was pitted against the British trio of Richard Kilty, Andrew Robertson, and the recently returned from injury Mark Lewis Francis. Paul crossed the line in third behind Lewis Francis and Kilty in a time of 10.57, some way off his PB of 10.18, but given the totally alien environment of the track and the first race of the season it was still a good time.
Ninety minutes later Paul was back in action in his much favoured 200m distance. Competition here was always going to be stiff with the presence of Tyson Gay and Kim Collins. However this was no ordinary 200m race for many reasons. The track was a straight 200m which meant the race was a straight out and out drag race the entire distance. Given that the slightly sprung track was flanked by high buildings and the sun was not shining on much of its length the cool Manchester air provided non-perfect conditions. The cold was obviously playing on Gay who removed his wooly hat only on going to the blocks. What was to follow was a race that was a pure pleasure to watch. Gay stormed out of the blocks and passed the 100m mark in 9.88s, the second 100m was completed in 9.54s to give a (rounded down) time of 19.41s to set a new world best time over the straight 200m (IAAF no longer ratify the straight distance for world record purposes). The middle 100m, between 50m and 150m was covered in a staggering 8.72s !!!!!! Paul had an OK start, but lagged behind in the first 50m, his great strength which is so often seen in his blistering bend phase was very much in evidence such that at 150m he was just edging ahead of Kim Collins. Unfortunately Collins just beat Paul into third place with Paul crossing the line in 20.66, a great time given the bizarre conditions and his first outing of the year. With early form such as this it all looks very positive for Paul for the coming season.
A youtube link to the 200m race is below and also the full results from both races.
