A Teesside University athlete is hoping to get on the right track and get to the 2012 Olympics.

Long distance runner Ricky Stevenson hopes to be lining up at the  Olympic Stadium in three years time after winning the English Schools Cross Country Silver medal.

The 20-year-old from New Marske   is also the Amateur Athletic Association of England 1,500 metre champion, double British Colleges champion and double BUC’s champion.

And he made history last earlier this year when he became the first ever winner of the Middlesbrough Mile, completing in just 4.07.

Speaking to Tside about his hopes for London 2012, Ricky said: “It is every athletes dream to represent their country at the Olympics and I am no different.

“After university I hope to go professional and start running in international competitions and obviously I will be aiming for a place on the Olympic squad.

“But you have got to be cautious. It would be nice to get there on target and not pushing it, but you are ready when you are read and if i don’t make it I will have to look at it philosophically.”

Ricky has been running competitively since he was just 15-year-old, when he met coach Steve Shaw of who quickly spotted his potential.

The talented star originally wanted to be a footballer, but changed his mind after winning his first race back in 2004.

Since enrolling at Teesside University in 2007 he has also joined the Elite Athlete’s scheme, which supports gifted young sportsmen and women to help them reach their goals.

Ricky said: “I’ve always done core training but this year has been my first structured programme in the gym and it has been really difficult.

“My regime is pretty tough. I do Olympic lifting on Mondays, a hard track session on Tuesdays, and repeat for the rest of the week.

“Matt Wright, my strength and conditioning coach, has been brilliant and he has taken a keen interest in me. Matt and Steve have worked together, bouncing off each others’ ideas and the scheme  has been a massive help to me. First of all the financial support which lets me claim all my expenses back but even more beneficial is the strength and conditioning training.”

Ricky has had a perfect season but is now looking at the goals in front of him, and what else he can expect in his ambitions to continue racing.

The motivated athlete said: “If you go back to the glory days of the 70’s and 80’s, someone like Steve Ovett would run a half marathon one week, then go and win the 800 metres the week after.

“I’ve got the Counties in early May, but I’m concerned that I may not be in best shape there.

“So after that I will get a couple of week’s warm weather training, come back and hopefully run a very good time for 1,500 metres.

“If I can keep improving my speed, then I definitely fancy a medal at the forthcoming Lithuania games- if not winning it!”

There are many positive things in life that having a passion for sport can help in.

“If I didn’t train I don’t know what I would do with my life. The sport has made me who I am today and has given me loads of confidence.”

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