Isle of Wight athlete Henry McLuckie insists he is hitting his stride at exactly the right time with the British Indoor Championships beckoning.
The middle-distance star was left disappointed after failing to qualify at the Under-23s European cross-country trials in November but has bounced back in some style.
After winning the 5-mile Battersea Park Friday Night Under the Lights in December, the 20-year-old jetted off to South Africa for a hard month of training with a handful of established British stars.
On his return, the St Mary’s University student stormed the Armagh 5K, finishing in 13:37 – a course record and a personal best.
McLuckie said:
“After South Africa, I knew that I was getting into some good shape. I was very consistent out there so I was excited to come and race.
“We didn’t really have a race plan. It was more just: let’s try and win it. It just so happened I saw an opportunity for a gap, went for it and then led the last 3k, running eight and a half minutes on my own.”
McLuckie’s trip to South Africa saw him train alongside 1500m world champion Jake Wightman, plus fellow rising stars Matt Stonier and Oliver Dustin.
The European Under-20 bronze medallist will be competing in the 3000m at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham on 19th February and after his latest success, the SportsAid athlete is determined to better his seventh-place finish on debut last year.
McLuckie went on to say:
“I’m really excited to race. I’m just going to go with it and see what happens. There are some great guys in the race.
“You’ve got guys like James West and Jack Rowe. They’re all close to the standards of the European Indoors so they’ll be gunning to win to get their automatic spot.
“Whereas I haven’t done a 3k indoors yet this season, so there’s not much pressure on me to be honest.
“I know, after the other day, that I’m in good shape to run fast so I think anything can happen.”
Entain, owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, is proud to be championing the next generation of British sporting heroes by providing talented young athletes with financial support and personal development opportunities in partnership with SportsAid. Visit entaingroup.com to find out more
