7.63 seconds will probably resonate with you somewhat from last month.
We’ll say that again. 7.63.
It’s the time that 13-year-old Trezeguet Taylor from Trafford AC clocked over the 60m at the North of England Indoor Championships in Sheffield last month.
It’s a time that puts her 8th on the all-time rankings for her U15 age group, faster than current British Champion Asha Philip at that age (7.72), with only the likes of Katherine Merry (7.35 from 1989) and the infamous flying junior, Jodie Williams (7.45, 2008) standing in her way.
Last year, in her first year as an U15, the Manchester born athlete established herself as not only a master of the short-sprints, but also a bubbly, well-rounded young woman, who knows how to compete at major championships. Clocking 12.08 over the 100m last year, she finished her 2018 season in 2nd on the UK rankings and with a bronze from the English Schools Championships in the summer.
Over the years, Longford Park has produced world-class female talent, from MBE Paula Dunn to Olympian Seren Bundy-Davies. Naomi Ogbeta and Abigail Irozuru (both trained by Tom Cullen) are also part of the record British team for the Europeans in Glasgow next week. Seeing athletes like this at training is true inspiration for young athletes like Trezeguet.
So, we caught up with Trez (as her teammates like to call her) and her talented group of female training partners, to get her thoughts ahead of this weekend’s England Athletics Age Group Championships and her record times this past year.
“I heard my mum screaming as I crossed the line. That’s when I knew I’d run quick. I knew it was a fast time, but not that fast. But my mum screaming told me.”
Trezeguet’s response to her record 7.63 win at the Northern Championships was one of surprise. She knew she was in good shape and as she said herself “I’ve had a really strong winter so far”, but that time solidified her hard work.
Coming from a sporting family, she has two older brothers, with 20-year-old Northern 110m Hurdles Champion Rivaldo, being someone who she looks up to.
“It’s great to have older brothers to aspire to and want to compete against”.
Her mum also adds “It’s a family thing”.
Trezeguet herself started out her sporting campaign in gymnastics, and thanks the sport for aiding her speed in athletics. “I definitely think gymnastics has helped me with my sprinting. We used to have to do lots of core exercises, building a strong core was important”.
She also has to thank her ambitious training partners, silver medallist at the nationals Halle Ferguson and Greater Manchester bronze medallist over the 200m Ellina Connor, for her love of the sport and continued enjoyment. Standing at an impressive 1.80m at the age of 14, Halle embodies a future Morgan Lake, and aims to jump 1.70m this year. Ellina is also fast over the 200m (26.41) and 100m (13.1) and is with Trezeguet on the start line for every single rep at training.
“It’s great to train with these girls and we push each other a lot”.
The girls go on to say, “We look up to athletes like Dina Asha-Smith, because she’s still quite young, but so fast and she’s where we want to be in the future”.
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Despite having mixed abilities, the group appears to be, first and foremost, a group of friends who love athletics, and that’s something that coach Andrew Wood seems to in-still in them.
“They’re a pleasure to work with and in terms of my goals for them for 2019, I just want them to continue competing at their very best and enjoying it really”.
Trez goes on to say “Andrew is a coach, like a real coach. He really pushes us. I also enjoy competing for Trafford AC as it’s a good club in good leagues, so our events are always competitive”. The club competed at the ClubConnect Finals at the Müller Grand Prix last weekend and are in the Premier Division for UK Women’s League.
Trezeguet’s performances, like any other young athlete’s, wouldn’t be possible without her supportive parents. Her mum is at every single training session, as is Ellina’s, and Halle’s dad drives a lengthy 70 mile round trip from Preston to get his daughter to training each week.
“We couldn’t do it without them. We have them to thank” say the girls collectively.
Despite her record times already this season, Trezeguet appears cool, calm and collected, with her head firmly on her shoulders.
“I don’t tend to get nervous anymore. I used to, but that’s gone now”, says the 60m specialist, standing at just 1.56m tall. On the start line, I’ve started doing this thing where I stare down the track, right to the very finish line. I focus on that, my race and what I have to execute. And that’s it really. I of course want to medal at the England Championships this weekend, that’s the goal”.
So, despite outstanding raw talent and pure enjoyment for her hobby, there doesn’t appear to be any hidden secrets to this pocket-rocket’s record times, just a nurturing coach, top-class training partners and a friendly yet competitive club such as Trafford AC to compete for.
Watch this space.
