Chris Thompson capped the most emotional week of his life by booking his place in the Tokyo Olympic marathon.
Three weeks before his 40th birthday and four days after becoming a father to his son Theo, the Barrow-born Brit won the trials at Kew Gardens.
He did so with the fastest marathon of his life, breaking a seven-year personal best (2:10:52) to beat Ben Connor, who is also Japan bound.
"I feel like someone is going to tell me this didn’t happen,” said tearful Thompson, whose previous quest for an Olympic medal back in 2012 was rather undermined by a fractured back.
“Seriously, I am 39, for crying out loud. This does not happen. I don't know how I've done it. I'm running on cloud nine.”
Steph Davis booked her Tokyo ticket by winning the women’s race, in 2:27:16, just three years after she started running seriously.
Peloton fitness instructor Becs Gentry took five minutes off her PB to finish fourth (2:32:01).
Thompson gambled on running his own race and reeled in the leaders with a well-timed burst two laps out.
"This week has knocked me for six, I've been trying to hold it together,” he said. “I've never felt so much emotion in my life.
“The last two laps nothing was stopping me. I was in dream land. I just entered my own little mind palace. I’m going to have a few beers because I need it.”
Callum Wilkinson won the 20km walk ahead of Tom Bosworth, but fell short of the Olympic qualifying time. which, ironically, Bosworth has already achieved. Heather Lewis took the women's title.
