Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun (born 2 July 1986) is a London-based British track athlete. Balogun began his career when he joined Kent AC at the age of 19.[1] Balogun competes across 60m 100m and 200m distances, and has represented Great Britain at U23 and Senior level.[2] He is coached by Clarence Callender, the 1998 Olympic 4x100m Silver medallist.[1]

Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Representing  Great Britain

Biography

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Balogun lives in Mottingham, South London, and attended the University of East London, studying marketing.[3][4] He was first approached to attend a training session after a Kent AC athlete saw him running to catch a bus in 2006 when he was 19.[3] Balogun's first trial at Kent AC was overseen by Clarence Callender and Donovan Reid. Callender recalled that the first reaction that he and Reid had to Baloguns first trial run was "The next moment, when I looked up he was disappearing into the distance. He had trainers on and he'd never stretched before in his life but he just kept on running and wouldn't stop".[3]

Balogun made his first competitive appearance in the 200 metre event at the British Athletics League National Two on May 6, 2006. He finished 2nd with a time of 22.70 seconds.[2]

Balogun became the 12th all-time fastest British athlete over 200m when he set a time of 20.38 seconds at a meeting in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 2009.[3] He was ranked 2nd in Great Britain over 200 metres in 2009, and in 2010 was ranked 10th in Great Britain over 100 metres.[5] Balogun was awarded a scholarship from the University of East London in 2010, in recognition of his sporting achievements.[6]

Achievements

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Date Venue Meeting Distance Position Time [2]
27 June 2010 Birmingham Aviva European Trials and UK Championships 200m 3rd 20.89
30 May 2010 Hengelo IAAF World Challenge Meeting 100m 4th 10.43
28 May 2010 Dessau Internationals Leichtathletikmeeting 200m 2nd 20.89
23 May 2010 Loughborough Loughborough International 200m 2nd 20.86
13 February 2010 Sheffield Aviva World Trials and UK Championships 60m 6th 6.73
25 September 2009 Daegu Colourful Daegu Meeting 200m 2nd 20.98
19 September 2009 Gateshead Quays Great North City Games (Track) 150m 2nd 15.21
15 September 2009 Szczecin Pedro's Cup 200m 2nd 20.85
15 September 2009 Szczecin Pedro's Cup 100m 7th 10.63
30 August 2009 Padua Meeting Citta' Di Padova 100m 7th 10.27
25 August 2009 Tallinn Big Bank Meeting 200m 3rd 20.74
25 August 2009 Tallinn Big Bank Meeting 100m 3rd 10.31
15 August 2009 Cardiff McCain UK Challenge Final 200m 2nd 21.38
15 August 2009 Cardiff McCain UK Challenge Final 100m 3rd 10.63
12 July 2009 Birmingham Aviva World Trials and National Championships 200m 4th 20.99
28 June 2009 La Chaux-de-Fonds Resisprint International 100m 3rd 10.29
17 May 2009 Loughborough McCain Loughborough International 200m 1st 20.95
17 May 2009 Loughborough McCain Loughborough International 100m 2nd 10.40
31 January 2009 Birmingham Birmingham Games 60m 3rd 6.76
18 January 2009 Lee Valley SEAA Championships 60m 3rd 6.69

References

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  1. ^ a b Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun: from chasing buses to chasing dreams, spikesmag.com, archived from the original on 9 May 2011
  2. ^ a b c Jeffrey Lawal Balogun Profile, Power of 10: United Kingdom Athletes
  3. ^ a b c d Hart, Simon (10 July 2009), Sprinter Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun has the world at his feet, London: telegraph.com
  4. ^ "UEL student looks towards the World Championships". Now and Then. London, United Kingdom: University of East London. October 2009.
  5. ^ Athlete Profile: Jeffrey Lawal Balogun, greenwichstartingblocks.org
  6. ^ Scholarships show UEL's commitment to sport, uel.ac.uk
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