Thomas is a proud coach

THERE won't be many coaches who will have seven athletes in action at the two-day English Schools Track & Field Championships this weekend so please step forward Mark Thomas.

- Kevin Fahey

The Team Bath AC coach can proudly claim that accolade having guided his young athletes into qualifying for their biggest event of the season at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham.

This elite group amazingly comprises four steeplechasers in Poppy Feasey, Stan Wyatt, Olivia Paul and Dan Phelps plus the 3000m pair of Tobi Loughlin and Sophie Maxwell and 400m sprinter Tom White.

“Mark is so dedicated and very open with his feedback,” said Wyatt, who is eighth in the UK U17 Rankings and number one in the South West.

“He makes it all straightforward and there is no messing about. He is a really good coach.”

Earlier this week Wyatt put the finishing touches to his preparations with a session alongside clubmate and former English Schools’ 2,000m steeplechase champion Dylan Stoneman.