At the weekend four members of Wallasey AC competed for Merseyside in the English Schools Championships at Nottingham. On Friday the Merseyside ream suffered numerous setbacks, with only a few of the ones expected to do well actually performing well. This could have been due to many things not least of which was an excessively Ions coach journey
The four Wallasey competitors Janet McGee, Barbara Jones, Kevin McGee and Rob Heap were all expected to reach their res-pective finals and probably pick up a medal, if they ran sensibly. This was not to be. Rob Heap, like both of the girls was competing in his first English Schools Championships but was not overawed and took it all in his stride. When he stepped on the track he knew what he had to do, and he needed a fast early pace. This didn't materialise and the race was played into the hands of the fast finishers. Rob finished 7th.
Kevin McGee, with much pressure on him to do well before he was flown out to join the Great Britain team in Spain seemed to be in good shape after his training earlier in the week. But his concentration didn't seem as total as it should, and he finished out of the first two.
Barbara Jones was only one tenth of a second outside equalling her personal best although she didn't qualify for the next round.
The only spark of life from any of our members was ignited by Janet McGee. Fresh from her success in Ireland, Janet was determined to at least return with a time as good as last week's.
Running easily and well within herself on the Friday she qualified for the semi-finals in the inter girls 800 metres with a third place in 2 mins 22.2 sees.
On Saturday morning the semi-finalists stepped onto the track. In the first semi-final ran Janet. Running well early on she seemed to tire.
There ended Wallasey's chances of an English Schools medal, for this year at least, and now we look forward to next week and news of club international Kevin McGee. After this the following week, the clubs 4 x 800 metres county champion relay team are defending their title at Hartford. The team including Kevin McGee, Pete Jones, Rob Heap and Bob Brimage are capable of taking about 30 secs off the old record. Anyone wanting information on the club should contact D. Hanna at 638 0296.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 14/07/1979
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