It seems strange to write a review so early in the season but that is testament to the performance produced by Demetric Nelson on Sunday at the first League match of the season in Doncaster.
24 days before his 19th birthday, Demetric did what no Bingley Harrier has ever be recorded as doing before. The Club record for the 100m was set in 1975 and is the second longest record on the books. The record holder is “J Roys” It is understood that he was also known as Mr Roys by many (including our Club President) as Mr Roys was a PE teacher.
The record was 10.8 seconds. In 100m sprinting there are 2 significant barriers to break for men, 11 seconds and 10 seconds. The latter is reserved for the World’s elite and only 3 British athletes have ever run sub 10 seconds. For mere mortals running 10 point anything is considered a rare and significant achievement.
So last year when Demetric told me he was going to break the record I was impressed by his ambition, and having coached one sub 11 second runner previously I was confident in my ability to provide the coaching support he needed. He did not quite break the record but equalled it in the last League match of the season running 10.8, the same day he equalled his own 200m Club record set the year before when he was just 17.
The aim this season was again, to break the Club record for the 100m, a record that was set the year before I was born, and has been the goal and dream of every Bingley sprinter for the last 2 generations. To break the record in his third race of the season was impressive, but more impressive was his ambition to keep breaking it as the season progresses.
As Demetric only trains twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Horsfall track in Bradford) and is still so young, his potential to run faster is matched only by his ambition to do so and his absolute belief in what he can achieve. We have set some goals for the season beyond breaking the Club record but we have set no limits.
With just three races gone in this season Demetric is focussed on his next opportunity to race and run fast (West Yorkshire Track and Field League 22nd May at Cleckheaton), however my thoughts as a coach are ever so slightly turning towards planning for the next, and somewhat obvious target of breaking the 10 second barrier.
Keith Daniel