Ultimate Athletics welcomed over 200 athletes for the season opening Ultimate Racenight.
The evening kicked off with the female track and the male field events, Yannick Kraus, 14, from Ultimate Athletics and Jess Ranches, showed why he won the Ultimate Athlete of the Year, by breaking all his personal bests in five events and smashing four club records. Kraus has been recently selected for the German National Team after a successful summer competing in Europe. It was a busy night for Kraus who managed a huge 6.06m on his first long jump, a 43.40m Javelin throw, which was an improvement on his personal best by 8m, along with throwing the 4kg shot put 13.40m and finally sprinting the 80m hurdles in 11.78 second. He also won his fifth gold in the U15 100m.
Future star: Isobel Chalier took gold in the 1500m
Meanwhile Ultimate Athlete Jordan Claasen,16, was delighted to break his personal bests in the 100m (10.94 seconds) and 200m (22.57 seconds) finishing in the silver medal position to Ali Haji,16, who executed a smooth 10.60 seconds and 22.08 seconds, which were new U17 Club records, showing once again why he is on the Bahrain National Team.
Rising star: Oliver Demain won the U17 3000m
Oliver Demain Ultimate Athlete 16 continues to make a name for himself on the road racing scene in the UAE. He comfortably won the U17 3000m in 9.07 seconds and the 1500m with a new personal best of 4.13. Demain is a popular figure among the Ultimate Athletics family as he volunteers with the mini-athletics programme and is a great role model for the elite endurance squad.
Olympic hero: Mohamed Hassan Al Noobi was in action
UAE Tokyo 2020 Olympian Mohamed Hassan Al Noobi inspired many with his 200m win in an easy 22.20 seconds, it was his first time hitting the track since competing in Toyko and has since been beach training in the off-season. His advice to the youngsters is to train hard and do all the competitions they can to gain experience. Al Noobi says he hopes to make the Olympics again in Paris 2024.
Great night: Ali Haji from the Bahrain national team in action
Females leading the way on the track included the long standing Ultimate Athlete Emily Davidson (17) from Dubai College who dominated the 100m and 200m senior categories. Isobel Chalier (13) also from Dubai College took gold in the 1500m and holds the club record of 4.42.86, she recently won the New Balance Fastest Mile challenge too. The future is very bright for Chalier in, the triathlon scene where she is already racing with International elite standard triathletes.
New records: Jordan Claasen broke his personal bests
Lisa Campbell the founder of Ultimate Athletics and Ultimate Racenight director is so pleased that competitions are back on track and sees the events as an opportunity for athletes of all levels to time trial and monitor their progress throughout the season. It’s also a chance to meet and compete against other athletes from across the region and from the Ultimate Athletics academy in Abu Dhabi.
The event was supported by the UAE Athletics Federation and Dubai Sports Council and event photography by Melissa Lear.
Another win: Dubai College runner Emily Davidson dominated the senior 100m and 200m
All smiles: Ultimate Athletics founder Lisa Campbell
