Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 12:00pm

Teen star wants Moore at 2012

by Charles Watts

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BRACKNELL athletic sensation Adam Moore has set his sights on gold at the 2012 Olympics following his fourth straight 800 metre success at the English Schools Track and Field Championships.

The 17-year-old, who trains at Bracknell Athletic Club, travelled to Gateshead last Saturday to compete in the event which he won in thrilling style in the home straight.

It was his fourth gold medal in a row at the championships having taken the Intermediate title in 2006 and 2007 and the Junior title in 2005.

He now hopes to qualify for October's Junior Commonwealth Championships in India, but it is the prospect of gold at London's Olympic Games in four years' time that has him dreaming.

He said: "To be able to compete at the Olympics in my own country would be huge, that's definitely my aim now.

"When I realised I had talent and could go far I started to learn about the history of the Olympics.

"I watched the likes of Ovett, Cram and Coe and thought that I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

"To stand on the podium hearing your national anthem play in your own country would just be a dream and it's something I will work very hard for."

Adam won the Senior Boys 800m at Gateshead last weekend in a time of 1:51.93, but the former Easthampstead Park pupil admits he feared during the race that his run of gold medals was about to come to an end.

"The first lap went well," he said. "We went through in about 57 seconds and I was sitting nicely in fourth, but then with about 200 metres remaining I was completely boxed in.

"I was thinking to myself that I had to find a way through and then with about 120m left a tiny gap opened up and I just muscled through and managed to win down the home straight."

Adam was inspired to take up the sport just over four years ago when his father David showed him some medals he had won when he was a member at Bracknell Athletic Club.

He then went down to the Wooden Hill club where he met Nick Marlow, the man who had coached his father, and he hasn't looked back ever since.

Adam said: "As soon as my dad showed me the medals he had won I thought I'd give it a go so I went down to the club and I met Nick.

"I started doing the 800m straight away. At first I wasn't great but I have progressed from there thanks to the work of my coaches."

For a 17-year-old, juggling a social life and a strict training schedule can be difficult and Adam admits it does have its drawbacks.

"It is difficult sometimes," he said. "You have to get a good balance between your social life and athletics. Running is my first love but it's still hard not doing everything my mates are doing.

"I do go out and have fun but if I've got a championship coming up I'll come back early so I can concentrate on training."

He added: "I get up at 6am every morning to do a 45 minute run and then I'll have training in the evening and at weekends. It's difficult but it's worth it.

"I have great coaches in Gary and Nick Marlow and my parents help me out so much. Without their support I wouldn't have made it to where I am."