Moorfoots at the Olympic Stadium

Four Moorfoots past and present were in action in the Olympic Stadium over the extended holiday weekend in the British Universities Athletics Championships which were the test event for the Olympics.

Sarah McCormack took gold and produced what was described by the athleticos site as "the best finish of the weekend" when representing Lancaster University in the Womens' 10000m on Sunday. Her winning time of 34.31.52 was a 45second improvement on her previous 10k best on the road and when the Olympic Games start in just over two months, a Moorfoot will be the stadium record holder!

After a steady first 5000m in 17.50, Jess Coulson, coached by the renowned Mick Woods (Twell, Purdoe, Gorecka etc), pushed the pace to break the leading group and had built up a 30m lead with 8 of the 25 laps of the track remaining. But Sarah, now clear in second, was lapping consistently at 80 seconds and gradually reeled in the leader. She latched on again with 4 laps remaining then the two were toe to toe over the closing laps. But 200m out Sarah unleashed a devastating kick to sprint 60m clear by the line. She clocked 16.41 for the second 5000m of the race, only 2 seconds off her 5000m PB. Top form.

You can see a flash interview with Sarah looking fresh as a daisy here

http://www.athleticos.org/coverage/249304-2012-BUCS-Outdoor-Championships/video/633444-Sarah-Mccormack-10000m-1st

Unfortunately athleticos were not allowed to film the races (although someone must have relented for Monday’s events) but one of Sarah’s pals videoed the last 600m which will hopefully be on You Tube soon. Honestly, her kick was incredible and has to be seen to be believed.

In the same race former Moorfoot (and soon to be back?) Alex Campbell (Stirling) was lapped a few times by the leaders but battled on really bravely to the finish having done very little running in the last 3 months.

As she expected, Scout Adkin was a bit short of pace in her 5000m heat but ran well for 13^th on Friday evening despite having risen that day at 4am for her flight to London and having a niggly ankle following a twist at the UKA Mountain Running Training Camp the previous weekend.

Finally ex-Moorfoot Faye Nicholson, in her first competition back from her shoulder dislocation at the end of January, was understandably below her best but still made the long jump final as the youngest finalist by two years.