TOM Mortimer might just live up the M5 in Stroud and runs for their local club but there is no way one can ignore the recent performance of this outstanding West Country runner.
Competing in the Diamond League 3000m in Gateshead, Mortimer (pictured below) broke Steve Ovett’s 44-year old U23 British record by three seconds with a superb time of 7min 38.73secs.
Mortimer is now top of the European U23 rankings by 14seconds and seventh overall in Europe.
Stroud coach Chris Brown said: “Tom is targeting the Paris Olympics in 2024. He had three aims this year: to get faster from 1500-5000m, be selected for the European U23 Championships and achieve the Commonwealth 5000m entry standard for next year. He has achieved all three.”
As a further measure of the quality of that run it puts Mortimer top of the All-Time Rankings for the South West, displacing the great Nick Rose (7:40.4) of Bristol & West AC and Westbury Harriers’ Simon Mugglestone (7:47.12).
Now if Mortimer can go on to enjoy half the success Rose enjoyed in his glittering career he will do well.