Veteran athlete Mark celebrating England call-up

The Mansfield Harrier drew the keen attention of the selectors with some outstanding performances both on road and cross country which ultimately saw him crowned the British Masters 5000m Road Race champion and the Midland Masters 10,000m Road Race champion.

Added to those, he also ran the fastest times in the British Masters Cross Country Relays and the Midland Masters Road Relays which ensured his selection was never really in doubt.

A delighted Johnson said: “A year ago I sat down with my coach Pat Carlan to look at what I could achieve as a veteran athlete and decided that to represent my country would be something I would like to aim for - and I believed that I could do it.

“Now it has become a reality for me and I am thinking that not only will I be competing in an international event, but I could possibly win it.”

Johnson has two more races planned in the build-up to pulling on the England vest, one of which will be the National Cross Country Relays on home turf at Berry Hill Park next month, an event that will provide him with the tough sort of competition that he is likely to encounter at Cardiff when the top athletes from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales do battle for the top honours.

Mark is aware that to compete at the top level in his sport, he will have to travel around the country to find quality events to compete in.

So he would like to hear from any local business who may be interested in sponsoring him to achieve this.

Potential sponsors can contact his coach Pat Carlan on 07866 651934 or email [email protected].