Blog from STC Elite and Sub-4 miler Tomas Cotter
The summer of 2015 was without doubt the most successful period of Track and Field in my career. I set PR’s over 5 distances (800m, 1500m, mile, 5k, and 4 mile) with the sub 4 minute mile being the most significant. Running 3.58.50 and becoming the 27th fastest Irish miler of all time was a special feeling. Add that to the fact I broke it on a track I used to practice on twice a week as a kid in front of my family and you have a surreal moment that I will never forget. Reclaiming my Irish National 3000m steeplechase title in a windy 8:47 was another significant moment for me as I was constantly looked at as the #2 steeplechaser in the nation. Other races to note was my 1:50 800m and 14:16 5k.
What’s next for me? I just came off a four week break were I got to do things without having to plan around practice and racing which was nice. I took a mental break from Track and Field which I feel is very important. Over the next few weeks I’ll gradually build my mileage before hitting a peak of 85-90 mile weeks around the start of November. I’ll also ease yoga, abs, hurdle mobility, and light weights into my weekly training. The first few months of 2016 I will run some indoor with the focus still being outdoor from April – August were I’ll try qualify for the European Championships and Olympic Games.
This brings me to my gofundme campaign that I recently set up. The purpose of my gofundme account is to raise $5000 to help me achieve my dreams of qualifying for the European Championships and Olympic Games. The money I raise will go towards travel costs to meets in California, Iowa, New Jersey and across Europe in the summer. Travel costs include plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and gas. Add that to physio needs to keep me injury free, use of anti-gravity treadmills, apparel, shoes, spikes, and entry fees and that’s where my figure comes from. The following is a link to my gofundme – http://www.gofundme.com/tomascotter
STC Elite update – Cotter runs 3:58 mile, Bahner 8th at Pan Am’s
It’s been a big week for a couple of STC Elite athletes as they continue to compete in international competitions around the world.
The big news this week was Tomas Cotter running 3:58.50 in the Mile at the Morton Games in Dublin, Ireland. Cotter had run some good races this summer in Europe but this was definitely his best. He is the 51st Irish man to break the four minute barrier and was the top athlete from his country in this race.
From Cotter, “I knew it was possible but to be the first Irish man and beat some of the world’s best was incredible!”
He has the Irish Championships in two weeks and is working on getting in a couple other fast European races now that he has a fast time in the Mile. He will probably run the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase.
Here is the link to the race video – the Mile begins at 2:04:55
STC Elite athlete Austin Bahner has also had a busy summer capped by an eighth place finish in the Pan Am Games Decathlon. He scored 7451 points, just two behind seventh and 49 behind sixth place. It was his second international competition of the summer representing the USA as he has now made four different national teams in his career.
Congrats to Tomas and Austin for their terrific performances!
Cotter wins Prairie Fire 5k
STC Elite’s Tomas Cotter has been racing sporadically this fall in cross country with good success and he showed his form Saturday on the roads by winning the Wichita Prairie Fire 5k in a time of 14:38. This followed up last week’s 24:57 PR on the 8k cross country course at Fayetteville, Arkansas. Congrats Tomas!