6:30am Monday 15th February 2010
ATHLETICS: Tom Lancashire enjoyed an encouraging start to his new track season but knows the hard work is yet to come.
The Great Britain international finished runner-up to Andy Vernon over 3,000 metres at the Aviva World Indoor Trials and National Championships in Sheffield on Saturday.
But while qualification for Doha next month is not an ambition, the Bolton Harrier has his eyes on other major championships.
“It was tough and the first race of the year is always a bit weird,” said Lancashire, a bronze medallist last month at the North of England cross country championships in Blackburn.
“I am in fairly good shape so I wasn’t expecting it to feel quite so tough.”
Lancashire admitted he made an error on the Sheffield boards, when he made a break for glory that ended with Aldershot and District rival Vernon overtaking him.
“I got the timing wrong and went too early,” he said.
“But it’s the first race and I just didn't judge it right. Hopefully in Birmingham next week I’ll know a bit better what kind of shape I am in.”
Lancashire, who clocked 8:04.07 against Vernon’s 8:00.70, will again compete over 3,000m at the National Indoor Arena.
However, the Beijing Olympian’s priority is to peak for the outdoor track season this summer.
“The European Championships in Barcelona are my main goal,” explained the 24-year-old Bromley Cross man.
“I’d like to make the final first and then see what happens. If I can get a medal that would be great.
“There are the Commonwealth Games in India later in the year as well. But my focus is on the Europeans first and think about the Commonwealths after that.”
Lancashire will be in exalted company when he competes in Birmingham next weekend.
He will be up against the greatest long distance runner of all time, Kenenisa Bekele, and Britain’s number one at 3,000m up to 10,000m, Mo Farah.
Bekele won gold at both 5,000m and 10,000 at the World Championships last year and the Olympic Games the previous year and is the world record holder at both distances.
“It will be a good test for me,” Lancashire added, “and hopefully I can continue to improve.”
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