TOMAS STEPS UP A GEAR IN RECENT 1500M COMPETITIONS

We recently heard that Tomas Hoole, Year 9 student at Richmond School, had qualified in first place in the junior boys 1500m at the County Athletics Championships held at the University of York. This brilliant performance meant that he qualified to run at the Inter Counties event held at Gateshead International Stadium – a much bigger stage, with significantly stronger competition!

We caught up with Tomas after the Gateshead event to find out how he did as well as a bit of background about his running.

RS: Congratulations on qualifying for the Inter Counties event, Tomas – how did it go?

T: There were 12 runners – I knew four of them from training and previous events and I knew I was unlikely to make the podium! I was there for the race experience and possibly a PB. Anyway, I followed the eventual winner for about 300m before dropping back to a competitive group. I ended up with a good PB and came 10th. That gained three points for North Yorkshire, contributing to them winning the competition overall.

RS: That sounds like a tough race! Excellent effort, though – and staying with the winner for a bit at the start. How do you feel about the race, looking back?

T: I think I probably went off a bit hard, then I wasn’t completely spent at the end like many of the other runners. I definitely need to think about my pacing – but that’s what I wanted from the event, some experience at a higher level, running with athletes who are faster than me.

RS: It sounds like you learned a lot from the event – you obviously think quite analytically about your performances and how to improve. And a PB! Again, good effort.

So, you’re at a good level now, Tomas, but when did your running start – I know you’ve run for the school in quite a few cross country events since Year 7?

T: Yes, that’s when I started. Some of my mates were running in the cross country team in Year 7 and I joined them. It wasn’t really about the running then, it was more about having a day off school! I did OK though – I came 8th, then 15th in the County Champs, then went to the Inter Counties and really enjoyed the experience. I’ve run cross country for the school since then.

RS: Ok, what about track? Are you a member of a club outside school?

T: I joined Richmond and Zetland to start with, but there weren’t many people my age to train with and push me so a year later I moved to Darlington Harriers. There are more athletes there that are my age – some quite a bit faster than me! I train two or three times a week in the summer, building up to events like these last two. Our training is quite structured, for example the other day we did 8 x 400s with 1 one minute rests, trying to maintain 69s pace for each 400. Hard work!

RS: Certainly sounds like it! What about away from the club – do you do any other training?

T: I do some longer runs on my own and I’ve just got an indoor bike trainer – my knees aren’t so good and cycling keeps up my fitness without causing problems with my knees.

RS: You’re obviously putting the work in. How about the rest of the season – do you have any events coming up?

T: My next one is a North East Youth Development league event at the end of June. My goal is to keep my training going until then and hopefully go for another PB – I’d like to go under 4:39!

RS: All the best with that event, Tomas. Thanks for telling us a bit about your running, especially those most recent events – well done again. We look forward to catching up with your performances on Sports Day later on this term – then it’ll be back to the cross country in Year 10! 

Note: We know there are many other Richmond School athletes competing in a wide range of events this season, as usual. If you would like us to celebrate their successes, just get in contact!