Jun 2014 Winner – Mark Hoy
IT was a busy month in June for Enniskillen middle-distance runner Mark Hoy.
The 22-year-old held an impressive winning streak on his way to the National Championships. Mark described this year’s main season as his ‘best’ yet with June the best month of the year.
He won the 800m in the Ulster Championships, his first senior title.
“It started off with the Ulster Championships and my first big senior race. I missed them last year but thought I’d come back this year and give it as good a go as I could.
“It was fairly wet and miserable the main aim is to get through the heats and conserve your energy for the evening.
“There were a few good athletes that I was wary of. But I just knew to keep my head down and carry on with my race.” As a result Mark was invited to the Belfast International meet, which involved athletes from competing in the Commonwealth Games in July.
In June he set a new event record at a meet to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first ever sub four minute mile, run by Roger Bannister in 1954. At the Belfast mile he came in first at 4:19.03.
“I couldn’t have been happier with June. This season as a whole has been the best I’ve had. I’m still improving but I’m happy with where I am.”
A successful June saw him move into July to compete in the National Championships, the only disappointment for Mark in an otherwise excellent season.
“What I didn’t expect was that when there aren’t titles at stake lads aren’t as aggressive as when it comes to a national title.
“I got caught off guard really but you learn from it and move on.” Mark is off for another week after giving himself two weeks off but he’ll soon be back into road races, long distances followed by indoor in February and the outdoor season in May. He thanked nutritionist Nuala Lilley for her role this season.
He is also to run for Northern Ireland in two weeks time, having been given the call yesterday (Tuesday).
“I haven’t been training for a while but I’ve agreed to give it a go as it gives me my first international competition as a senior athlete.”
