In recent years the Middlesex County Championships has had a dearth of performers in the middle and long distance events especially in the Men's events. Only 1 in the Under 20 steepleelchase, 2 in the senior race and only 2 seniors, out of 3, finishing the 5000 in the last two years reports Alastair Aitken
    However, it is still a hot bed of sprinting talent and very competitive right through the age groups. Hamim Lubega, 22, won both the 200 and 400 senior finals in 22.11 and 48.93 respectively. He was in lane 4 for the 400.
    Lubega, who is coached since school by Chris Zah remarked " My best race was breaking 48 to do 47.70 in 2007 in the Southern Championships, when I was in good shape but since then had a shin injury. My specialist event is the 400 but they think I am good at  the 200 also so I do both."
    It was remarkable to see John Hall, at 60 years of age, win the Middlesex 3k walk yet again, pulling away from the opposition with 1k to go and then he walked home 10 miles for training afterwards.
    Richard Goodman, who was 16 in April, won a tactical 'U17' 800 in just over two minutes but insisted " Cross country is the thing I most love and look ahead to things like the Euro and then the World's hopefully. I also love cycling rather than track' However he had done a PB of 8.37.87 for 3k in May but hopes to get down to 8.20/8.27 this Summer.
    Richard Goodman talked about his coach for Running in London
    " Geoff Williiams is my coach' You tell him your goals and he will get you fit. He will get you more or less what you want to be. If you have the dedication. This season I hardly missed a training session and the outcome was that I managed to win the English Schools cross country Championships.
    ' He does not get enough money for what he does for his advice. He would get you into any race. He is more or less perfect. I don't think he gets enough recognition for what he does. For training and everything he knowes what to do."
    An impressive winner was in the MIddlesex Senior 1500, although in a modest time of 4:04.45, by Windsor's Ian May.  He had run a 1:58.7 800 with heats earlier in the day. When the first three runners came round the final bend in the 1500 final he was back 50 metres behind with another runner but he came tearing up the straight to rush right into the lead, just before the finishing line.
He said he was tired from the earlier heats and final so he left it late. Very late! reminding  me of Dave Wottle, who I interviewed for AW after he spectaculalry won the 800 in the Olympic final in Munich in 1972 wearing that white cap!