Relay races can be the model of teamwork

James Qualtrough | September 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

Jersey Spartan Athletics Club women’s’ relay team

With just 2 weeks to go until the challenge to find Jersey’s fastest at FB fields, women’s Track and Field Captain of Jersey Spartan Athletic Club and one of the organiser of the Jersey’s Fastest event, Helen Butler, tells us what is like to run in a successful relay team

Q: What relay teams do you have at Spartan Athletics Club?
A: We have a 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay teams for both junior and senior women, so we have something for everybody in all the main events

Q: Do the relay runners compete in other athletics disciplines?
A: Yes. We all compete in our own individual events, I take part in the 100m, 200m and 400m, but we also have girls who do 400m hurdles, sprint hurdles and 800m

Q: How long have you all been running?
A: It varies. Most of the runners have been involved in athletics since they were very young, I started when I was 6 years old. However, we also have some senior athletes who started late in life. One of our sprinters only took up athletics a year ago at the age of 38 and is now one of the top veteran runners in the UK.

Q: Who inspires you and who are your role models?
A: I think Jessica Ennis is incredibly inspirational, she shows what can be achieved through hard work and dedication and I think she is a fantastic role model to both children and adults. The way she handled the pressure and limelight at the Olympics was admirable.
As a relay team we are obviously also inspired by the USA team, the great teamwork they demonstrated at the Olympics which got them the new world record was amazing.

Q: How often do you all train?
A: We train 4 times a week on the track doing a mixture of sprint training and relay practice and we do two strength and conditioning sessions a week at the gym.

Q: We hear a lot of talk about food and nutrition in sport nowadays, do you have to follow any special diets?
A: We try to eat a healthy diet, get a good mix of carbohydrates and protein and eat little and often for energy. However, if anyone brings cakes down to the athletics track they will be gone in seconds!

Q: What’s your proudest achievement as a team?
A: Our relay teams have been very successful over the years, we compete in a women’s league in the UK where we consistently win both the 4 x 100m and 4 x400m relays.
Our biggest success as a team though is winning medals in both the relays at the last two Island Games competitions.

Q: What is the Jersey’s Fastest event and who is it aimed at, who can take part?
A: Following on from the passion and enthusiasm created by the Olympics we want to create a family event to inspire the local community to get more involved in sport. We will have coaches and professional talent spotters there on the day who will be looking out for the potential sporting stars of the future.
We have events for all ages and abilities to get involved in, including relays, 100m races, 1 mile race, children’s fun run and Tug of Wars, creating a great opportunity for local organisations, banks, and sports team to challenge each other to be the fastest in Jersey. Full details and instructions for joining in on the day are on the website at www.jerseyspartan.com

Q: What can you win on the day?
A: Our club sponsor Santander Private Banking, have kindly donated medals for Gold, Silver and Bronze. There is also a cash prize for the winners of the 100m and the winners of all the events will have the prestige of being crowned ‘the fastest in Jersey’

For details and to sign up, visit the Jersey Spartan Athletics Club website at www.jerseyspartan.com where entry forms and information about the event are available.

Price: Free
When: 10.30, 23 September
Where: FB fields, FB Fields, La Grande Route de St Clement, St Clement, JE2 6QN
Contact: www.jerseyspartan.com Telephone 759610