UK Athletics have appointed Steve Vernon as the World Class Programme (WCP) Endurance Performance Manager to lead the programme for endurance events.

Vernon will be responsible for leading the WCP in this area through the Olympic cycle, focussing on Paris 2024 and beyond. In the Endurance Performance Manager role, he will work closely with the Olympic Head Coach Christian Malcolm to ensure WCP athletes from Podium to confirmation level as well as their coaches and support teams are effectively supported.

He will also collaborate with Chris Jones, who continues to develop the Endurance Strategy for UKA and heads the Advisory Panel Group (Endurance) which was recently launched following the UK wide Coaching Strategy published last year, to ensure that the WCP is positioned appropriately within UK’s performance system. Vernon will work closely with key stakeholders within UK Athletics and Home Country Athletic Federations to ensure that the development pathway into the WCP is aligned and connected.

Vernon represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland several times during his career at World and European Cross Country Championships, as well as a European Mountain Running Championships – he finished fifth at the latter in 2013, his highest place finish in a British vest.

He has worked in high performance sport since 2008, and coached international endurance athletes at his base in the northwest of England since 2010, with athletes qualifying for Olympic Games and World and European Championships but in line with his appointment at UK Athletics, he will stop his individual coaching and his involvement with his running team before he officially starts the role on the 2^nd May 2022.

Head of Performance Tommy Yule said,

“We are pleased that Steve will be joining us in this important role to support our World Class Programme endurance athletes. Steve is a highly experienced individual and understands what it takes to be an elite endurance athlete, which will be invaluable in driving our WCP forward to better support athletes.”