16 1SS Saturday June 4 2016 | the times Sport Athletics

PoArmed strugglett: Pottererhas shown netrw beliefusto book hertsplace at the inOlympics magical mix of power and perseverance

Paul Forsyth the British champion as Andrews was ineligible for the gold medal. It earned Beth Potter can still hear the words of her a GB vest ahead of Kate Avery, who the stadium announcer at the Stanford had pipped her in a sprint for fourth at Invitational in California as she wound 2014, and Jo Pavey, whose tar- herself up for the last four laps of her get was to qualify for a fifth consecutive 10,000 metres. “They’re right on the . The exhausted Glas- button for the Olympic qualifying wegian was too emotional to celebrate. time,” he said, prompting all manner of “I had the same thing at Stanford. I thoughts to rush through her head. wasn’t happy at the end. I was just cry- Quite apart from the years of sacri- ing. Tears of joy obviously. Disbelief.” fice and the dark moments when she The satisfaction would come later. nearly quit athletics, she thought about Last week, Potter took her year-13s for her job as a physics teacher in London, their last physics lesson at Orleans Park as well as the pupils who had sent her School in Twickenham. “It was really off with best wishes and a box of choco- sweet,” she says. “As I walked into the lates. Potter isn’t easily distracted in the room, they unrolled an Olympic flag big races, but this was different. and had Chariots of Fire playing. A “I was so set on getting the time, and firecracker went off as well. I got the I didn’t really know what pace we were fright of my life, but it was really some- running at,” she recalls. “When they thing to remember. They even filmed said we were on for 32.15, I thought it for me.” ‘I just have to do this’. I kept saying to Potter, who moved to London so that myself, ‘I can’t justify this time off work she could undertake a postgraduate if I don’t do it. I can’t go back and tell teacher-training degree at St Mary’s all the kids who wished me good luck University, has come a long way since Setting the standard: Potter ran a personal best in the 10,000 metres at the Commonwelath Games at Hampden that I’ve not done it’. I had to do it. I just the days when she was growing up in had to.” Bearsden, running for Victoria don’t even know if it will until I’m there. changed in my training, but it’s made season. In February, when I wasn’t Potter did it alright, posting Park Glasgow — where her I keep trying to play it down, but every- the world of difference. quite hitting it in training, she ran an a personal best of 32min father, Alex, still competes — one makes a big deal of it. I just feel “My outlook is much more positive awesome race at the grand prix. I re- 03.45sec, which meant that and swimming at Bearsden overwhelmed by it all. now. I keep believing in myself if I am member going to training the next day, she needed only to finish and Milngavie Swimming “My coach always thought I could do ill or injured or things just aren’t going and it was like a switch being flicked.I among the top two Club, which also counts it. When I ran the qualifying time, it was to plan. It took me a long time to be was really inspired by her run, and British runners at Katie Archibald, the a long wait for the trial. It was quite able to do that. There have been so things took off for me.” Highgate seven Scottish cyclist, nerve-racking because I was the only many times after bad races or bad Neither did altitude training with the weeks later to among its former one who had run the time this year and months of training where I’ve just British team in Flagstaff, Arizona, do secure a place at members. I felt like I was the target for others to her any harm. There is a photograph of the Games in Rio As others fret over beat. I was feeling really apprehensive ‘I keep trying to play it Potter, perched on a ledge high above this summer. A their Olympic because I knew there was so much the Grand Canyon, alongside fellow fortnight ago, she prospects, Potter is hanging on it. I’m just glad I don’t have down but everyone Scots Eilish McColgan and Andrew did just that, crossing free to begin her prep- to go through that again.” Butchart, who have also been making a the line in 32.05:37, arations. She is only Potter, now 24, has learned to handle makes a big deal of it’ charge at the team for Rio. behind only Linet the fourth track-and- stress, which has often threatened to They want what Potter already has, Masai, of Kenya, and field Scot — after the get the better of her. On several occa- wantedto chuckit.I’mgladthatIdidn’t.” namely an opportunity make a name Jess Andrews, the runners sions, she has nearly given up the sport, It is no coincidence that Potter’s big- for herself on the biggest stage of all. “I race’s surprise En- Callum Hawkins, demoralised by injury, illness — includ- gest inspiration is her fellow Scot and think I’m in shape to run 31-something. glish winner. Tsegai Tewelde and ing tonsilitis two winters back. training partner, Steph Twell. “When Whether it’s 31:45 or maybe even quick- That made Potter Derek Hawkins — to For two years, she has benefited from you think of all the setbacks she has er than that, I don’t know. But I always have booked a place weekly sessions with a sports psycholo- had, with her ankle break, and how she seem to up my game it when it comes to Likely lads: Potter on the flight to Rio. gist, so much so that she now counts has managed to get back on the world a championship. I don’t want to just go has joined trio of “It’s hasn’t sunk in perseverance among her most valuable stage, it is really inspirational. She was there and run. I want to go there and marathon Scots yet,” she says. “I traits. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever probably the turning point in my run well.”