Alex Yee’s fantastic 5000m

Alex YEE achieves fastest 5000 m time by an U20 for years !

 The race IFAM Outdoor at Sport Vlaanderen, Oordegem (4hrs away via the Channel Tunnel) is a sports complex and there were many events in the main programme, rather like a BMC GP but with a higher class international field. The event is aimed at giving athletes the opportunity to gain qualifying times for International Competition.   The 5000 m races were programmed to start at 22:30 hrs and they did ! The impressively long start list requiring 4 races included a several African athletes meaning Alex was potentially 50th in the PB pecking order.   Alex ended up in the B race but as it was an open race seeding did not happen until 15 mins before the start which meant Alex’s warm up routine a little ad-hoc.   As ever the race started very fast 200 m in 30 sec but then settled to 65 sec for first lap. Pace was pretty good and Alex did 3 km in 8:13 sat comfortably in 3rd position but had to run several laps on the outside to maintain his position.   At the bell there was some jostling and Alex stumbled and passed me with 200 m to go in about 5th position but managed a good finish with a dip to end up in 2nd. with 13:37.6 – Well within the 14:20 qualifying time for July’s European Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy. (Ironically the GB 5000 m trials were on at the same time at the BMC Sportcity GP in Manchester however none of the athletes managed to achieve the time).   Alex is very pleased with his time but immediately said that he felt that he had more in his legs and is wondering what 10,000 m will be like!                                                                                                                                                                   Ron  Yee