Rampant Ross wins UK title

Ross Skelton won the men’s 5,000m at the Track & Field Inter-Counties Championships in Bedford on Sunday.

The 21-year-old said: “I’m really happy. I would say it’s probably my biggest win so far. I’m still an under-23 and to do that in my first race for Sussex men’s on the track was pretty good.

“I’ve been training hard and it’s all really come together for me. I put myself on the start line and told myself this is probably the best shape that I’ve been in for the track, and the closer it got to the finish, the more confident I got. I

knew I could have a really good go at a medal, but to win it was great.”

Skelton, of the Brighton Phoenix club, “threw everything at it” over the final lap to triumph in a personal best time of 14:44.6 with the runner-up clocking 14:44.9.

“The track’s always been my Achilles heel,” he continued. “But everything seems to be working on the track since I’ve changed coach to Jon Bigg (husband of Olympic athlete Sally Gunnell) this year.

“I’ve always been good on the cross-country and it’s probably safe to say my future lies on the road. I never thought I could make a go of it on the track, but I’m going to try and pursue it as much as I can because more people are recognised on the track.

“My plan is to get a GB vest within the next two or three years. After that I would say the long-term aim is probably the marathon in the Olympics at some point.”