Feature: Interview with Mo Farah Academy Athlete Amy Griffiths

Every year a limited number of Mo Farah Academy scholarships are awarded to promising young GB athletes joining St Mary’s University, Twickenham. The Scholarships provide students with access to special coaching and guidance from the Mo Farah Academy, in addition to financial support. In this interview Mo Farah Academy scholar and BSc Nutrition student Amy Griffiths explains more about being a scholar, training at St Mary’s and her life as an athlete. How has the scholarship awarded to you by the Mo Farah Academy contributed to your athletic development? The Mo Farah Academy has contributed to my athletic development by helping me with my travel costs to and from training and races, which means that I can train and race with a higher standard of athletes. I am also able to get physiotherapy treatment to prevent myself from getting injuries. Why did you choose to come to St Mary’s? Because of its reputation for training leading athletes. The Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) has great facilities and coaches, who I felt would help me to progress as an athlete. You compete in the 1500m, 3000m, and in cross-country events, which is your favorite to compete in? My favorite event would be 1500m. I love that it’s short but also not so quick that the race flashes before you, it’s just the perfect distance. I also love the thrill and adrenaline of the people around you on the track. How do you train to compete in such a variety of events? I have certain sessions that I do throughout the winter for Cross Country which are longer repetitions and bigger volume. Throughout the summer I tend to stick to the same volume but mix with longer and shorter repetitions for speed and also to maintain endurance. How have you found the training facilities at St Mary’s? The training facilities at St Mary’s are brilliant! The new Strength and Conditioning Gym has loads of equipment to use in my sessions and the running track is fantastic. I also find that the parks surrounding the University are great for training too. How has your performance improved since you joined the University? My performances have stayed relatively similar due to a prolonged illness before Christmas, but coming out the other side of this the plan is to develop greatly. What goals have you set yourself for the 2015 season and how do you think the support of the Mo Farah Foundation will assist you in achieving them? My goal this 2015 track season is to qualify for the Junior European Championships in Sweden and to go there with an intention of winning a medal. I think that the Mo Farah Foundation will help me achieve this by helping me financially go to races all around the world to gain the qualifying time but also the experience of racing high quality girls. You recently saw great success in the British University and College Sports (BUCS) Cross Country Champions, coming third as the St Mary’s women’s team came second overall. What was the race like? How did it go for the team? The race was like nothing I had experienced before, the team ethic was outstanding and the St Mary’s team really got behind you when you where racing. The experience was great, I didn’t really feel like it was my sort of course as it was extremely hilly and muddy and I usually suit a flatter faster course, but it just happened to be my day and it ended with a good result for myself and the rest of the girls in the team. What is the best thing about studying at St Mary’s? The best thing about studying at St Mary’s is having athletes around you that want the same thing as you; to work hard and achieve all of their goals within their sport. What is your greatest athletic achievement so far? My greatest achievement so far would be winning the English schools 1500m and breaking the championship record which had stood for 25 years.