PIERS Copeland is set to run in Torun at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, reports Nigel Harding.
Wimborne AC’s rising star secured selection for his senior Team GB debut with contrasting 1,500m victories behind closed doors at Sportscity, adjacent to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
First, Copeland outkicked 2016 Olympic 5,000m sixth-placer Andrew Butchart to post a new indoor personal best of 3:38.55, in the Bryggen Sports Invitational meeting.
Eight days later, he followed up with an astute 3:52.17 win in a slow and tactical British Athletics Selection Trial.
Copeland is now set to toe the line in the 1,500m heats in Poland, scheduled tomorrow (7.20pm), with the final the following day (8.35pm).
Copeland also achieved the qualifying time to represent Wales in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
He has established a residential qualification for the Principality from his base at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Sportscity Invitation 1,500m results - Bryggen Sports Invitational: 1 Piers Copeland (Wimborne) 3:38.55, 2 Andrew Butchart (Central AC) 3:40.82, 3 Archie Davis (Brighton Phoenix) 3:42.09
British Athletics Selection Trial: 1 Copeland 3:52.17, 2 Davis 3:52.94, 3 George Mills (Brighton Phoenix) 3:53.12.
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