Success for EPACC Athletes Across Europe

The Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham has seen great success in recent elite athletics competitions across Europe. At the start of July, 24 EPACC athletes competed in the finals of the British Athletics Championships. Current student Charlie Grice won the men’s 1500m and alumnus Dale Clutterbuck came 3^rd, with five other EPACC athletes competing in the race. In the 3000m Steeplechase, alumnus Rob Mullet and Lennie Waite claimed the Gold medals in the men’s and women’s races. Elsewhere, alumnus Andy Vernon came second in the men’s 5000m, a race that featured five other EPACC athletes. Alumnus Steph Twell also won the women’s 5000m, with three other EPACC athletes competing in the race. In the European U23 and Junior Athletics Champions, EPACC saw six athletes compete. At the U23 Championships in Tallin, Latvia, Mo Farah Foundation Scholars Theo Blundell and Adelle Tracey competed in the men’s and women’s 800m champions, with Adelle finishing 4^th. In the European Junior Championships at Eskilstuna, Sweden, Mo Farah Foundation Scholar Amy Griffiths came 2^nd in women’s 1500m. Current student Jack Rowe, men’s 10,000m, and EPACC Athletes Gus Cockle, men’s 5000m, and Grace Baker, women’s 5000m, also competed at the championships. Meanwhile, at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium, EPACC athlete Steph Twell ran her second qualifying time (QT) of 15:14.39 for the World Championships in the women’s 5000m, giving her automatic qualification for the championships. Elsewhere, Charlie Grice also ran a QT for the world championships of 3:35.29 finishing 2^nd in the 1500m. Charlie now needs to run one more QT at Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at the Olympic stadium from the 24^th to 26^th July to gain automatic for the World Championships. Lennie Waite also ran a World Championships QT of 9:40.39 when she won the 3000m steeplechase at the Folksam Grand Prix in Karlstad Sweden on 22^nd July. EPACC also saw athletes compete at the British Milers Club Oxford Grand Prix on the 18^th July. Current student Elliott Gilles won the men’s 800m A race with a time of 1:47.74, whilst alumnus Ben Coldray finished 3^rd in the men’s mile A race. Director of Sport St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith said, "The races are coming thick and fast as St Mary's EPACC athletes are chasing qualifying times.  Great to see so many winning their British title and Amy Griffiths' European silver and Steph Twell gaining automatic selection for the Beijing World Champs are particular highlights.”