Athletics: Nick is looking for the up side; INSIDE TRACK.

Byline: BY BILL McGUIRK

IT'S BEEN a topsy-turvy season for Morpeth's Nick McCormick, with the down beat of it all a missed opportunity to gain a place in Team GB for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

McCormick, now based in Loughborough, was back on Tyneside to compete over 3,000 metres in the Aviva British Grand Prix at the International Stadium and, while he enjoyed the experience of competing again in front of a home crowd, he feels he is still not firing on all cylinders.

"It's been a really frustrating year for me with a few highs and big lows," said McCormick, after finishing ninth behind Olympic 5,000 and 10,000m gold medallist Kenenisa Bekele.

"Obviously, failing to make it through to the final of the 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships was a low point in my career.

"I didn't think it would get much worse, but it did and I was greatly disappointed not to make it to the Olympics after a really awful run in the Trials.

"I felt comfortable for the first kilometre but the wheels started to come off with 500 metres to go.

"It's every athlete's dream of running in the Olympic Games and I honestly thought I could make it, because the build-up had gone pretty well.

"However, it wasn't to be and while it took some time to get over I still have the self-belief that I can get to where I was a couple of season's ago.

"After missing out on a dream of competing in the Olympics, I have to show I can bounce back, which hopefully, will be next summer for the World Championships."

McCormick moved to the Midlands, where he trains with a group which includes fellow North East athletes Ryan McLeod and Lewis Moses, and he is happy with things under the guidance of Nuttall.

"I know I need to get back into good calibre races like at Gateshead which will give me the opportunity to do myself justice," he added.

"After watching the Olympics I am of the opinion that if I had made it and the heats were run as they were, I think I could have made it through to the final.

"I still have every confidence in myself, but I know that it is getting harder all the time to be able to mix it with the best.

"I plan to mix cross-country with an indoor campaign which I see as the European Indoor Championships as a possible target.

"An early outdoor 5,000m is C planned which will decide on which option to aim for at the World Championships.

"I'm running the Great K Yorkshire 10k on the roads in Sheffield this Sunday, then I'll be back in the North East in four I weeks to compete in the Great North Mile on the Quayside."