Kettering’s David Locker, a former GB athlete, rolled back to years to win a brilliant Silver Medal in the European Masters Vet45 indoor 800m in Braga, Portugal at the world largest Vet’s athletics competition which held over seven days, playing host to over 3,000 athletes from 51 countries.
Locker who joined the Harriers in September when daughters Demi & Chelsie joined from Charnwood has been training with the KTH Middle Distance Squad, and has been working incredibly hard over the winter period and this was a brilliant performance to secure a podium finish in his first European Masters Championship, especially as this was the first time he had competed indoors for 25 years.
Locker first had to navigate the heats and with only the top 2 guaranteed to qualify from the three heats, he took control of his heat with a measured ran from the front to win in 2:07.14 from Hungry’s Boras Gabor. With all 6 automatic qualifying spots won in the same time of 2:07, the final was sure to be a close race, and so it proved to be.
David Locker navigated his heat with a controlled race to win with automatic qualification for the final
The final was run the following day and included 9 athletes and with space limited in the magnificent 6 lane indoor track the race was a cagey affair from the start. Locker had decided to sit in on the first two laps and settled into 6th place from the start keeping out of trouble. The 400m split was a keen 62 seconds and the third lap become a scrappy affair as athletes worked to position themselves for the bell, Locker’s progress was halted on two occasions losing momentum as he was boxed in. On the final lap Locker made a concerted effort to sit in behind the leading three athletes headed by France’s Mohamed Merroune, moving into 4th place ready for the final bend, Locker put in a brilliant surge of pace to move from 4th into the silver medal position off the last bend to secure a magnificent Silver for Great Britain.
Brilliant run from Dave Locker to secure a Silver medal for Great Britain
Locker was delighted to get on the podium at his first appearance at a Master competition:
“it’s been 25 years since I last ran indoor and I really enjoyed the whole experience, I am looking to enter the worlds in June this year which is being held in Finland” Coach Shane Smith was also delighted for Locker, “David has worked very hard since joining the squad and he has been an inspiration to the other athletes, showing that athletics is for life”. He added “Nobody has worked harder or been more consistent over the winter period and he has gelled well with the younger athletes who all push each other in training”.
Locker next competes in a few weeks over 800m indoors representing Midland Counties, and for the summer his main ambitions will be to dip below the magical sub 2:00 min barrier once again, and to compete at the world masters Championships.
Well done David.