Ian Kennedy reports
It’s been an extraordinary year for Wimborne AC’s middle distance athlete Piers Copeland. Indeed it’s been a fine year from British middle distance running with a new wave of talented younger athletes beginning to emerge.
On the back of a breakthrough track season in 2020, Piers has taken the decision to be come a full time professional athlete. The UK rankings for 2020 have recently been published in Athletics Weekly and, for the 1500m, Piers is ranked third in the UK. He’s also ranked 7th in the UK for 800m.
Having just turned 22 years of age, this past week saw Piers offered membership to the Olympic Futures Academy for 2021, where British Athletics have identified those with the potential to make Team GB selection for the next Olympics. There are a maximum of three slots available to Team GB athletes in the 1500m in Tokyo. There’s still much work to be done, Piers is currently three-tenths of a second off an Olympic qualifying time, and there are other aspiring athletes with eyes on the same goal, but having been embraced by British Athletics in its Olympics Futures Academy Piers will receive valuable support.
With Piers already competing at a level where many of his races are being broadcast, it’s been some ride watching his progress throughout 2020. We’re looking forward to watching him pursue his dreams in 2021.
