Andy Vernon
ANDY Vernon produced a stunning final lap to savour victory at the Aviva UK Championships in Birmingham.
The 22-year-old runner, who runs second claim for Stubbington Green where he progressed as a junior, collected a first national title on his debut at an event which also doubled as the British Olympic Trials.
Andy, wearing the colours of Aldershot Farnham & District won the men’s 5000m with a time of 13min 54.26sec thanks to a storming 54 second last lap.
He took a packed 27 runner field by surprise to win by 10 metres from Scott Overall (Blackheath & Bromley) in 13:55.14, with Mark Warmby (Newham and Essex Beagles) claiming third in 13:57.88.
Andy's win earned him an invite to the Blue Riband 5,000m race at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on July 26.
He said: “That was the first time I have competed in the senior championships so to win was great. I found myself boxed at 600m to go so I had to wait for the bell to kick hard for the win.”
European silver medallist, Mo Farah, who won the 1500m at the trials, was named to run the 5,000m at the Beijing Olympics.
Andy’s Dad Chris, who is currently working in the United Arab Emirates, admitted that though there are still two places up for grabs on the British Olympic team over 5000m, it was unlikely that his son would make Beijing.
He said: “The team has been officially announced so unless Andy gets some incredible time inside the ‘A’ band qualifying standard that could make the selectors reconsider, I think we’ll have to wait another four years. He would have to run 13.21, two seconds a lap faster than his personal best of 13.45.”