Personal best performances indoors and outdoors are clear indications that Peter Doyle, Wallasey Athletic Club is all set for an outstanding season on the track.
Peter, who attends St. Mary's College, followed up his two minutes 0.8 seconds clocking at the National Youths' Indoor Championships last month with an even faster time of 1:59.5 in an open meeting at Stretford. Looking much stronger and more confident than last year, Peter must now have high hopes of even better performances to come. Coached by Doug Hanna, Wallasey club's chief coach Peter went to the European Catholic Student Games in Spain last, year where his club mate, Janet McGee, won the girls' titles at both 400 and 800 metres.
The day after his swift Stretford run Peter was in action again in the Wallasey club's town trophy meeting staged in miserable weather conditions at Kirkby. His efforts and those of a host of fellow club members helped Wallasey win no fewer than eight of the 10 relay events.
The highlight of the relays was undoubtedly the sight of club captain, Alan Johnson, battling it out in a 200-metre stage with youthful club colleague, Dave Hooker, only a fortnight after having run 3 hours 6 minutes in the Wolverhampton marathon.
There were some excellent individual performances, too, with Kevin McGee braving the gale-force wind to win the 3,000-metre team race from the front in 9 minutes 19.9 seconds, as Jimmy Ennis recorded a highly promising 9.43.4 in fourth place in his first-ever track race.
Young sprinters also showed an impressive turn of pace with personal bests at 100 metres for 11-year-old Liesel Phillips (14.6 seconds), Joanne Johnson (14.7) and Jane McCoy (14.9). Jane went on to be placed second at 200 metres in 31.2, another personal best, ahead of Liesel fifth in 13.8.
Michael King won the colts' 400 metres and also placed fifth at 100 metres while Ray Eaton was third in the boys' 100 metres, Dave Hooker second in the junior mile and Mark Cooper third in the boy's mile.
In the Wolverhampton marathon, personal bests were set at different ends of the age scale as teenager James Downey, ran a superb 2 hours 45 minutes 59 seconds in his first attempt at the distance and veteran Bob Phillips recorded his fastest-ever time of 2:48:22 some 15 years after his marathon debut.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 23/04/1983 by R. Phillips
Ref 1971