So the relays are nearly upon us again, what are everyones predictions for the regional competitions and who do you think will be triumphant at Sutton Park this year?
Ill get the ball rolling -
Northerns = Morpeth for the men, Chester Le Street for the Women
midlands = Birchfield and Bristol
Southern = NEB and WSE
Nationals = I'll stick with my roots and go for northern wins in the form of Morpeth and Chester Le Street!
Sale will have a very hard team to beat in the north, Leeds possibly too. Morpeth always rely heavily on McCormick, depends whether he is running it.
Its all about Wells for the Southerns
Sonia O'Sullivan and Benita Johnson will be in the same team
...and which team would that be?
The North is very strong: Altrincham, Salford Sale, Leeds, Morpeth, Chester le Street and even Liverpool who were strong in the North Wests. The race for medals in the North will be fierce.
Aldershot for women in south. Not sure who WSEH will have.... probably no Jo Lodge or Rebecca Taylor this year though.
Aldershot will have a good team of mainly juniors in the senior race.
East Cheshire for northern title!
who is oikely to make up the aldershot teams? men and women. thanks
Liverpool were missing McGlory on Saturday and still won the North Wests, look like they could cause a potential upset. Admittedly Salford, Sale and Altrincham fielded weak teams but it was still an impressive team performance...
With McCormick rumoured not be running, Walsh on crutches Abyu missing for Salford, Augustus running Swansea, Trafford missing Moran/Taylor and Andy Norman also out of action for Altrincham all the favourites seem to be missing a key runner.
This could be the closest race for years with any one of six teams having the potential to take gold.
northerner wrote:
Liverpool were missing McGlory on Saturday and still won the North Wests, look like they could cause a potential upset.
I've heard he's running.
On Saturday at the Northern's... just to explain myself :)
Midlands -
1st Birchfield will win if they get a few of their kenyan boys out. (hopefully not)
2nd NOTTS,
3rd tipton,
4th bristol,
5th owls
6th telford
Tipton for Midland title this year, should be 5 min quicker than last year...that is if Birchfield dont put out some dodgy athletes again!
Southerns...
Reckon it'll be between Bels, NEB and maybe Wells if they manage to get a full squad out.
Bedford could maybe challenge...as could Kentfor the minor placings seeing how they ran at the 12 stage southerns.
Winchester have just got some new recruits and could be a force - depends on whether they have any troubles with bans imposed by SEAA though.
Looks like a few of Birchfields afro's ran in the bristol half so might not be running the midlands.If so it's between notts,owls and tipton.
Winning time = 1.47.48
Agree on those predictions. AFD should make up the top 6 and could medal if Thompson runs. Kent could be a man short of a decent team but Jermaine is flying at the moment and should be next quickest after Farah and Thompson.
Outside bet - Highgate if Cullen and Noad both run.
Liverpool looked really strong at NW relays, won easily. Even their B team was very strong, especially their 1st leg!
They looked a good team but consider the teams they were up against. Salford made a half ass attempt to field some sort of a team but nobody else bothered. It is not a strong event. Liverpool might medal but they won't win. My guess is its between Sale, Leeds, Altrincham and Salford.