Andy Vernon
Andy Vernon took part in the toughest race of his life on 12th Jan in the GreatRun held in Edinburgh on the course of the World Cross to be held on 30th March. Once again he performed above expectation. The top Uk runners bar Mo Farrah, Frank Tickner and Peter Riley were in the specialist 4.4km short course race.
In his usual style he stayed cool throughout, not losing touch with the leaders, but staying on the pace and then moving through the field in the last 800m. With 250m to go he hit the front and it was only the exceptional finishing speed of Andy Baddeley in the closing few metres that reversed the placings, by one second. Baddeley was the highest placed finisher, 11th, for the UK in the European Cross in Toro, Spain in December and is ranked No.6 in the world for1500m.
Last year Andy Vernon could reasonably say that he was in the top ten in UK. This run assuredly sets him in the top 5. Excepting a show from Mo Farrah in the English National to be held at Alton Towers on 23rd Feb, the race is wide open and any one of six athletes capable of winning, including Andy.
With nine in the team for the World Cross Andy has secured his place for his first senior team representations. Can we get a contingent of support up from you mad keen Stubbies to cheer him and the British teams on in Edinburgh? The British ladies, particularly the Juniors with 2 Hampshire based runners, Steff Twell and Charlotte Purdue are really set to pull some surprises."