Stroud & District AC middle distance track athlete Tom Mortimer is back on track, writes Chris Brown.
Mortimer, who broke Steve Ovett’s 40-year-old British record over 3000m in 2021, has had to be patient with what was thought to be a career ending foot injury and for over 12 months and had to watch the World championships, plus a home Commonwealth game in Birmingham which he had hoped to be competing in.
Mortimer worked hard to maintain his fitness without running throughout the last year. So after only a month back into full running training to test his fitness he took part in the Villa de Laredo 10k road race in Spain, a known fast course. Mortimer emphatically showed he has come back strongly and sent a clear messages to his competitors by running one of the fastest all time 10k by a British Athlete finishing in 28 minutes and 17 seconds – breaking double Olympian and Commonwealth Marathon Bronze medalist Dan Robinson 17-year-old club record by 55 seconds.
Mortimer a 5000m track specialist, said: “I felt strong over the longer distance but did not push hard in my first race in over a year and pleasingly there was plenty more to give.
“I am really pleased with my performance it was amazing to be racing again. I cannot wait to get back on the track this summer to see what I can achieve after a block of speed work.”
