Wales 1500m Man Piers Copeland Take Stunning UK Title

By Owen Morgan

Piers Copeland produced the most spectacular finish of the day to snatch a brilliant gold medal in the 1500m at the Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships on Sunday.

The Pontypridd Roadents AC man was tucked in behind Callum Elson, of Cambridge and Coleridge AC, and Adam Fogg, of Coventry Godiva AC, for the majority of the race.

As the trio rounded the final bend at a packed Utilita Arena in Birmingham, bronze appeared to be the best the Welshman could hope for.

But as Elson and Fogg seemingly battled for gold down the home straight, a gap opened up in the inside lane.

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Copeland didn’t need a second invitation. The 25-year-old surged through on the rail to leave Elson and Fogg floundering in his wake.

The Commonwealth Games athlete glided over the line with his finger to his lips in celebration as his both his rivals stumbled onto the track unable to match his turbo charged finish.

After the race, Copeland said: “I had a few race plans depending how the race went and it went off slowly, so I just wanted to stay with it, but out of trouble.

“You can really lose the race if you go too early but, if you’re patient, you can win it.”

There were further Welsh medals on the track and in the field on the second day of the championships.