EPACC Athletes Take Top Titles at Weekend Events

It was a weekend of athletics success after runners from the Endurance, Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham competed in the IAAF World Indoor Championships and the British Athletics Inter-Counties Cross Country Challenge. On Saturday 8^th March current student Richard Goodman and EPACC athlete Lily Partridge took part in the 2013/14 British Athletics Inter-Counties Cross Country Challenge, which took place at Cofton Park in Birmingham. The pair, who are both coached by EPACC Performance Coach Mick Woods, took first place in the Men’s Senior and Women’s Senior title respectively. Meanwhile, three EPACC athletes competed for Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the IAAF World Indoor Championships, which took place from Friday 7^th until Sunday 9^th March in Sopot, Poland. Jemma Simpson competed in the heats of the Women’s 1500m events, whilst Andy Vernon ran a personal best time in the Men’s 3000m final. St Mary’s alumnus Andrew Osagie, who competed in the 800m final at the London 2012 Olympic Games, secured Bronze in the Men’s 800m event after crossing the finish line in 1:47.10. St Mary’s Director for Sport Andrew Reid-Smith said, “It was excellent to have St Mary’s EPACC athletes so well represented at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. In addition to Jemma, Andy and Andrew who competed for team GB and NI, former student Rose-Ann Galligan also ran for Ireland in the Women’s 800m event. “Andy Vernon ran well in his first major track championships to make the final, setting a personal best time of 7:45.49 in his 3000m heat. Andrew Osagie, in one of the most exciting events of the weekend, repeated the 800m Bronze he won at the 2012 World Indoor Championships held in Istanbul.”