Stewart defends British distance running from Cram and Foster criticism

From Steven Downes, in Berlin

 MO FARAH is determined to avenge his Olympic nightmare in Berlin's Olympiastadion tonight - but a row is brewing over the future of British distance running.

FORCEFUL VIEWS: Brendan Foster, Liz McColgan and Steve Cram - members of UKA's distance running advisory panel

Somalian-born Farah, sixth in the 5,000m two years ago, has long been tipped to break east Africa's stranglehold and even trains with the all-conquering Kenyan team.

Last year he wilted in Beijing's heat and didn't even make the final - a mistake he is determined to learn from this evening.

However, British distance running remains in a sorry state, hampered by high-profile injuries and a concerning lack of depth at senior level - in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon, Farah is the only British entry here in Berlin.

Last year UK Athletics formed an advisory group to study the problem, fronted by head endurance coach and former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ian Stewart.

The brains trust includes a host of former world champions and record holders, such as Seb Coe, Paula Radcliffe, Liz McColgan, David Bedford, Steve Cram and Brendan Foster.

However, it has yet to hold a meeting with all its members, according to McColgan, who won 10,000m world gold in Toyko 18 years ago.

Foster has yet to attend any meeting when McColgan has been present while Cram is the only member of the working group not to have provided a written response to a consultation paper circulated in the spring.

"I don't see how you can volunteer for a committee like this, with a lot of very influential people on it, and then not be committed," said McColgan.

"I don't know what the problem is - maybe their diaries are full. But if you're not there to hear what other people are saying, then you really can't know what's happening.

"Brendan's never attended any of the meetings I've been at, and Steve hasn't either."

Stewart was appointed to lead UKA's endurance strategy last November and has already made some encouraging steps forward.

He has introduced altitude training camps and returned the 10,000m to the national championships programme after a 25 year absence.

At the recent European under-20 championships, the British junior team won medals in every endurance event, an encouraging sign for the future.

“It’s a group, with people based all over the country, and some, like Paula, often based outside the country, so obviously it’s difficult to get everyone together,” said Stewart.

“But certain members of the group have refused to meet others, it’s the nature of some of the personalities in the group.”

Stewart has already been hit with criticism from both Foster and Cram - leading members of the BBC commentary team in Berlin. However, he remains determined to rise above it.

"If they want to slag me off, that's fine by me," he said.

"But there is a change in British endurance running. We can turn things round if we work together."