BOLTON Harriers are hoping Tom Lancashire will mark their centenary by qualifying for this year's Olympic Games. The 22-year-old middle distance runner is Harriers' star member and will fight for place in the Great Britain team in the summer.
He was ranked among the best in Britain at 1,500m and 800m last season and believes he will step up his game this year after finishing his four-year course at Florida State University last summer.It enabled him to spend the winter in England and get in his first proper preparation for a summer season in England. If he qualifies for Beijing, he will become the first Bolton Harrier to compete in the Olympics since Ron Hill ran the marathon in Munich in 1972.
And it will be the perfect way to mark his club's special year.
The Harriers have a long history of being represented at the Olympics since the club was formed in 1908. The first was George Wallach who ran the 10,000m in 1912.
He was followed by Ethel Johnson in the 100m in 1932, then Cyril Butler Holmes in the 100m four years later.
In 1952 Fred Norris ran the 10,000m and, four years later, he competed in the marathon. Christopher Goudge ran the 400m hurdles in 1960, John Boulter competed in the 800m four years later and Ron Hill ran the 10,000m and marathon in 1964, the 10,000m four years later and the marathon in 1972.
Lancashire says he is proud to represent his home town club and hopes he can be the latest of the long line of Bolton Olympians.
"It is the only club I have known," said the former Turton High School student who lives in Bromley Cross.
"Jack Caldwell coached me there from being 11 years old and I have come through the ranks at Bolton.
"It is not a massive club but that's nice. Everyone knows each other and are friends.
"It is nice to be a part of it. The new indoor facility has attracted a lot of new faces but it's still the same and I could not imagine running for any other club.
"Unless I am running in international races I will continue to wear the Bolton vest proudly."