Though our sporting prowess doesn’t extend much frrther than athletically rifling through the rails at TK Maxx, manfully putting the bins out of a Sunday night and sneakily hurdling over the entrances to real ale festivals we’re still proper chuffed that Andy Baddeley and Nick McCormick, two stars of New Balance’s ‘The British Miler’ series, have qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Andy confirmed his selection in the 1500m after claiming the British Championship, while Nick finished second in the 5,000m race to join his fellow member of Team New Balance on the British team. Having already secured the Olympic A-standard time in April with a time of 3:35.19 at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, Andy required only a top two finish to seal his place in the team, and took Gold in 3:47.99 at Alexander Stadium to confirm his credentials as Britain’s foremost 1500m hopeful.
Nick, meanwhile, opted to concentrate on the longer 5,000m course after sealing the A-standard with a personal best time of 13:18.81 in Huelva earlier in June, and clocked 14:00.61 in Birmingham to claim a silver medal, as well as the all important place on Team GB. Andy’s success saw him qualify for a second Olympics after competing in the 1500m final at Beijing 2008, and he immediately set sights on achieving success in his home town of London.
He said: ‘It’s been a long road over the last twelve months and this is part two of three. Part one was get the time; part two was the trials; part three is the Olympics. I haven’t been able to think about the Olympics until today. Now I can train harder!’
After qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time, Nick McCormick said: .’‘I’m absolutely over the moon. I’ve made my first Olympics at 30-years-old, so it’s been a long time coming. I’m delighted to run into the selection after achieving the qualifying time two weeks ago. I need to work hard now in training and I want to make the final in London.’
Andy and Nick’s success comes as they participate in New Balance’s ‘The British Miler’, a multi-platform documentary series tracking their journeys to London. Forthcoming episodes of the series, which airs each Monday on Sky Sports, will chart the inside story of the Trials, and more information can be found at www.thebritishmiler.com. Well done lads, we’ve got our fingers and the laces on our 577s crossed for you!
