Woods savours trials experience

The Bexhill raised athlete came fifth in the second heat of the men’s 800m at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

“For me it was a great experience to gauge the next level in which I want to be competing,” said Woods, whose aim for the season was just to be among the country’s top athletes at the trials.

Representing Bristol & West AC, Woods found himself in the lead after some heavy pushing and shoving in the first 200m and held that position past the half-way mark, which he took in 53 seconds.

This uncharacteristically fast start was probably due to the excitement and adrenaline from competing in front of 11,000 spectators and the fact that the BBC television cameras were capturing the event.

The fatigue hit Woods going into the last 200m, however, and he paid the price of front running by not being able to go with those edging ahead and finished in a creditable fifth position.

In a close heat, Woods’s time of 1:52.29 was less than two seconds behind winner Gareth Warburton and within a second of runner-up Niall Brooks. Only the first two went through to the final.

Woods, a former Little Common School, St Richard’s Catholic College and Bexhill College pupil, was pleased with the race and will be able to learn from this experience, which has left him hungry for the next chance to compete for his country.

The 21-year-old added: “I’m very excited about the next year to be able to commit myself to my athletics and I’m sure I will see some huge improvements.”

See this week’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.