HARROW Athletic Club's Andy Baddeley produced a stunning finish to win the 3,000 metres in the Europa Cup at Annecy, France, on Sunday, helping Britain to become European champions.
The 26-year-old stepped up to the longer event knowing Europa Cup races are often tactical and that his finishing speed could be decisive.
He was not to be disappointed as the field dawdled through the first two kilometres.
Approaching the bell, a group of four pulled away, leaving Baddeley boxed in, and there seemed to be no way through.
Baddeley managed to force his way through a gap that opened up with 50 metres to go however, and an electrifying burst took him to victory.
His winning time of 8 mins 1.28 secs was well short of his 7min 45 secs best but this was an occasion when winning was much more important than the finishing time.
Baddeley, a Cambridge graduate, was part of a British team which dominated in the track and took gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 3,000m and 5,000m.
The points successfully obtained in these events helped the British men's team storm the competition fighting off closest competitors Poland.
Baddeley is not the only HAC member to have flourished over the weekend however, with Matthew Carey finishing fourth in the final of the English national under 23 championships at Bedford on Saturday and Andrew Howell setting a new personal best of 51.88 in taking the silver medal at the recent South of England championships at Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Eloise Newman won the high jump with a good 1.76 leap while Hayley Comer took bronze in the 400 metres hurdles.
Dave Sketchley placed sixth in the javelin while Leroy Slue continued his good start to the season, taking seventh spot in the 200 metres in a fast 21.73.
There was also a welcome return to form for Richard Carr, whose 6.59 leap gave him seventh in the long jump.
On Saturday, four of Harrow's leading middle distance runners, Richard Franzese, Matt Casey, Adam Bowden and Peter Norris will head for Solihull for the latest round of the
British Milers Club Grand Prix. Franzese and Carey are searching for personal best times in the 1,500m while Bowden and Norris will both have to look for lifetime best in a highly competitive steeplechase.
