Home Comforts For Vernon And Andrews
The Great South Run is broadcast live on Channel 5 between 10am and 12noon on Sunday
ANDY Vernon and Jess Andrews will make the most of their home advantage as they take on the Great South Run 10-mile race on Sunday.
The world’s leading 10-mile event returns to Southsea Common in Portsmouth on Sunday, and with Vernon hailing from nearby Fareham and Andrews from the Isle of Wight, they will have the home support in their favour.
The pair, who both represented Great Britain in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer, will contest the men’s and women’s races in the Great South Run, where 20,000 other runners will take part.
Both ran for their country in the 10,000m on the track and will step up to the 10-mile distance on the fast and flat course through the centre of Portsmouth.
And Vernon is in top shape having taken victory in last weekend’s Great Birmingham Run half marathon.
He said: “I’ve recovered quite well from the Great Birmingham Run so I feel quite good. I got straight on to the massage table so my legs are feeling fresh.
“It was good to win last week, it was the first win I’ve had for over a year so it’s good to get back to winning ways – hopefully I can carry that on into Sunday.
There’s a good field, it should be a good homegrown battle.”
Meanwhile, for Andrews, who gets married in a week, the Great South Run will be a handy distraction from wedding preparations.
The 24-year-old said: “It’s amazing to be so close to home, I have quite a few supporters coming over to support me. We’re getting married next week so a lot of my close family have actually left to drive to Spain.
“Nevertheless I’m going to have a lot of support to watch. I know this area very well so I’m excited.
“I’d like to think I’ll have a good crack at it. I picked up a stomach bug last week which isn’t the best preparation to have in the lead-up. I’m here today and I feel good.
“The last time I raced here was 2013 and that was the last time I raced more than 10K on the road. It’s a building process, it’s early in the season and I’m so excited to be here.”
The Great South Run is broadcast live on Channel 5 between 10am and 12noon on Sunday.
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