Tom McKean

Tom McKean (b. October 27 1963, Bellshill, North Lanarkshire) is a former Scottish middle distance runner who won the European Championships 800m gold medal at Split in 1990 [http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=190&Itemid=64 European Athletics - Event Result Database] ] .

McKean also won the 1990 European Indoor Championships final, the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships 800m final [ [http://www.iaaf.org/mm/document/competitions/competition/29jan08all_737.pdf IAAF Statistics Handbook – 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships] ] , and the World Cup 800m race in 1989. In addition, he came first in all European Cup races from 1985 to 1991. However, he failed to reach the Olympic final both in 1988, when he was disqualified for too much physical contact, and 1992.

McKean was one of the favourites for the 1987 World Championships in Athletics 800m. However, he caught the foot of another athlete in the final and suffered an injury which resulted in him finishing last. In first round qualifying for the 1991 World Championships in Athletics 800m he slowed up too early before the line. He ended up third and failed to qualify. The two athletes ahead of him were eventual Gold and Bronze medalists Billy Konchellah and Mark Everett. McKean also won a silver medal in the 1986 European Championships in Athletics 800m splitting British team mates Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram, an event memorably described by Ian Wooldridge as being "like three Spitfires coming out of the sun". [ [http://www.aipsmedia.com/index.php?page=news&cod=566&tp=n Swede dreams as press box goes wireless] ] He set his personal best in London in 1989 at 1:43.88 min.

As of July 2006, McKean was a Strathclyde Police constable [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1830815,00.html Frozen in time: 28 August 1986] ] .

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