St Mary’s University student Andy Vernon began his 3,000m season by claiming gold at the Aviva World Indoor Trials and UK Championships, writes David Jordan.

The 24-year-old clocked 8:00.71 minutes to see off the challenge of Bolton’s Tom Lancashire and Liverpool’s Jonathan Mellor at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

Vernon’s exploits mean he has collected four medals from four starts this year after claiming gold at the BUCS Cross Country Championships in Stirling and finishing first in Cardiff and second in Antrim last month.

After taking to the podium again on his first indoor start of the season, the St Mary’s University student is on track for a successful 2010 – even if he doesn’t make the plane to Doha.

"I said before I came here that I would be happy with anything close to eight minutes, so I am pretty pleased with the time,” said Vernon.

“The qualifying mark for the world indoors is not something I am concentrating on.

“If I get it, then that's a bonus and I will be running in Birmingham next week in a race I expect to go out a little quicker than the one in Sheffield.

"With about six laps to go I put a bit of a boot in but when Tom came past me I thought, 'Oh no, I've gone too early.'

“But I managed to refocus and go after him. With about two laps to go I thought, 'He's not pushing it on any more. I can reel him back in.' so I'm happy I did that.”

Vernon was handed a taste of the international circuit when he finished 12th at the European Cross-Country Championships in Dublin and 78th at the World Cross-Country Championships in Jordan.

And after pulling on the GB vest in 2009, Vernon is desperate to make his international track debut in 2010.

“I am still concentrated mainly on the 5k and 10k at the European Championships and I’m also looking to try and get to the Commonwealth Games as well,” added Vernon.

“The Europeans is the main competition for me. I have already got the time for the Commonwealths but I still need one for the Europeans.

“It was a good race and it was good to win gold so if I get the chance to go to Doha I’ll think about it.

“I thought I could get closer to the time but really it is all just preparation for much later on in the season.”

Aviva is proud to have been the No. 1 sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and is committed to developing the sport at every level, from playground to podium. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information