Callum Lorimer, member of the Elite Sports Programme (ESP) at the University of Winchester. won the men’s race at the Winchester Half Marathon in time of 1hr 11mins and 23 secs.
First man home out of a field of 400-plus, he was more than a minute ahead of second-placed Mitch Pomfret.
The 22-year-old said he’d set himself the goal of winning the event after finishing third last year.
His time was more than minute faster than last year but still slower than his personal best of 1hr 10 minutes, which he set in Brighton earlier this year over a much flatter course.
Callum, a member of Brighton & Hove Athletics Club, was one of the first students to join the ESP when it started in 2023. He came late to running, taking up the sport as 16-year-old during lockdown.
He races over a range of distances from 3000m up to half-marathon (13.1 miles).
In March he took six seconds off his PB to finish ninth in his 3000m heat of the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Track & Field Indoor Championship held in Sheffield. His time of 9 mins 00.09 secs was almost a minute faster than when he joined the ESP.
Earlier in the year he captained Winchester men’s team at the BUCS Cross Country Championships and was the team’s highest-placed finisher in 77th.
As his half-marathon win proves, Callum’s talent lies over long distances.
“I’ve discovered in the past year I’m better at longer distances. I prefer the roads to the track as I haven’t really got great sprint speed.
He clocks up between 100 and 120km (roughly 60-75 miles) per week in training and his long-term aim is to compete at a high level in the full marathon.
Away from running Callum, who studies Sport and Exercise Science, says he’d like to pursue a career as a fitness coach.
Callum at the University's Bar End athletics track
The Elite Sports Programme is designed for ambitious student-athletes who want to excel in both their sport and their degree.
Speaking earlier this year about the programme, Callum said: “I think it's good how our coach structures our training sessions around our lectures so that we can come to as many as possible.
“My 10k has gone down by about five minutes since joining here, so it’s definitely really helped. Having a high-quality track that you can come to multiple times a week, as well as a gym on campus that we can use just for ourselves, has also really helped.”
Andy Fisher, ESP Head Coach (Track & Field) said: “I was thrilled to see Callum win the Winchester Half Marathon.
“Callum has worked hard as part of the Elite Sport Programme at the University of Winchester and is our male Team Captain and this was a real captain’s performance finishing over a minute clear of the field and proudly wearing his University of Winchester running vest.”
Callum returned to University this week along with the rest of the ESP squad and will be preparing for three National BUCS championships events beginning with the BUCS Cross County Championships on 6 February.
Pictured top: Callum breaks the tape. (Picture by Stuart Martin Photography)
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