Performance director Neil Black wants Britain’s young sprinters to live up to their billing as he seeks personal bests at the World Indoor Championships in Poland.
Britain returned from the last indoor global gathering in Istanbul with nine medals – two gold, three silver and four bronze – to place second overall behind the USA.
Of those nine medals only two came in individual events of 400m or less however Black is hoping that isn’t the case in Sopot as his young sprinters garner praise.
World No.1 over 60m James Dasaolu may have had to pull out of the event injured but Richard Kilty is 14th in the men’s division and Asha Philip the third quickest in the women’s.
Nigel Levine is ranked eighth in the 400m and Andrew Pozzi is 11th in the 60m hurdles and British Athletics performance director Black will be keeping a close eye on them.
“We‘re hoping for great performances. I’m looking for athletes and coaches to work together to prepare for competition and apply themselves for the various challenges that come along with a major championships,” said Black.
“I’m hoping for a group of people to make finals and when you’ve got that, you’re hoping, expecting and believing that some of those people will go onto get on the rostrum.
“Probably the comment I’ve heard the most over the last few weeks is how brilliant the young athletes have been performing in a number of different events, but particularly in the sprint groups.
“There are a number of those people there and Asha Philip is just one of them so it’s an opportunity for the spotlight to be on the upcoming athletes and also apply themselves to world standard competition and I’m looking for the personal bests and performances here this weekend.”
© Sportsbeat 2014