Sprinter Tom Somers, the world’s quickest 17 year old, is amongst the Loughborough College talent set to receive a funding boost with the announcement of the British Athletics Futures Programme for 2014-15.
Second only to the legendary Usain Bolt in the all-time 200m age group rankings, Loughborough College sports student Somers is one of nine College names with the potential to achieve success in world championships including the Olympics and Paralympics to have been invited to join Futures. Following the recent selection of eleven athletes for the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP), this takes the total number of College names set to receive financial support to 20.
The Futures Programme underpins the WCPP and was created by British Athletics to provide financial assistance and more targeted support for young athletes, typically aged 17-20, and their coaches.
Athletes graduating from the 2013/14 programme to the WCPP for 2014/15 include European Championship relay gold and 400m silver medallist and Loughborough College alumnus Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Joining Tom Somers on the Futures list is world youth number one in the 200m, and former student Yasmin Miller, who broke the 20 year old UK 100m hurdles junior record this year.
Para-athletes selected for the 2014/15 programme include IWAS Junior Championships gold medallist and Loughborough College student Pani Mamuneas.
AASE Programme names from Loughboorugh College who have also been invited to join Futures are current student Adam Hague and alumni Lucy Hatton, Kyle Langford, Amy Griffiths, Kyle Powell and Ojie Edoburun.
British Athletics’ Development Manager Jo Jennings said:
“The aim of the Futures Programme is to support the next generation of champions and their coaches.
“By providing financial assistance and medical support, as well as coach development funding, the programme is aiming to help athletes follow in the successful footsteps of former Futures athletes such as Dina Asher-Smith and Robbie Grabarz.”
Grabarz is a former Loughborough College Sport student.
Elite Sport tutor James Wilkinson said: “It's great to see the achievements of our current and former AASE students and this has been recognised by their inclusion on the Futures funding list.
“This funding is really important to maintaining progression and making the successful transition to senior athletics.”
Pictured: Loughborough College student and the world’s quickest 17 year old over 200m Tom Somers