Somto Eruchie

somto_eruchieEvent: 400 metres

Date of Birth: 9 February 1986

Born: Hackney, London

Lives: Great Barr

Club: Birchfield Harriers

Coach: Tony Hadley

 

International Highlights

2007 Indoor International match 200 metres Glasgow

2004 Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia 200 metres silver medal

 

National Championships

2008 Midland 200m champion

2007 Midland 200m champion

2007 BUSA 200m champion

2007 UK Indoor Championships silver medal

2006 UK Championships and European Trials bronze medal

 

Personal Best Performances

60m Indoors 6.89;

100m, 10.47 wind assisted (2006); 100m 10.58 (2005)

200m, 20.79 (2006);

400m, 48.21 Indoors (2009) 48.90 (2005)

 

Career summary

Somto is determined to succeed as an athlete. After graduating from Birmingham University with a degree in Medical Sciences he has put his long term ambition to qualify as a doctor on hold in order to pursue his dream of competing in 2012. He is currently living in a flat in Birmingham and has had a number of part time jobs to finance his athletics, including delivering leaflets and working in a Call Centre. A highly talented runner he had significant success at 200m, coming third in the European Trials at the age of 20, before moving up to the longer distance of 400m. other career highlights include winning  a silver medal for the 200 metres at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia. He also has the distinction of winning the British Universities (BUSA) outdoors 200 metres titles for three consecutive years whilst attending Birmingham University. In 2006, Somto was runner up in the 100 metres and ran a memorable last leg on the 4×400 metres Relay which elevated Birmingham University from fourth place into the silver medal position on the podium.

 

What are your targets for 2009 and then on to 2012?

To gain selection for the Great Britain team for this summer’s World Championships in Berlin and progress to challenging for titles in next year’s Commonwealth Games and European Championships as a spring board for 2012 in London.

 

What motivated you to take up athletics and how do you keep that motivation going?

Firstly it was my former coach Glenys Morton who played a pivotal and significant role in encouraging me to become involved in athletics. What now motivates me is trying to find out how far I can push my body and to identify what I can achieve in athletics.

 

Who has most influenced your athletics career so far and why?

Glenys Morton andTony Hadley, my previous and current coaches both of whom have helped to instil a belief in my own ability.

 

Your biggest Hero

Mohammed Ali.  Simply an awesome athlete. To be the greatest; you got to train hard to become the greatest.

 

What does the sponsorship / support of AGA mean to you?

A very great deal which I do appreciate. After finishing my degree at Birmingham University and having had a host of injuries; my athletics career stalled. Consequently I lost my previous sponsorship. This support has been a great benefit in helping me meet the cost of living away from home to be closer to training at the Alexander Stadium.

 

What has to date been your highlight as a member of Birchfield Harriers?

Winning a silver medal in the 200 metres at the 2007 England Indoors Championship at Sheffield.

 

What else could a higher level of funding do to help your athletics career?

To help with travelling and living expenses allowing me to concentrate and focus more on training and competition.