Brits set for 'very good' Olympics

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee believes Britain remains "on course" for a successful Olympic Games after encouraging performances this winter.

Van Commenee usually sets targets ahead of major competitions - in London it is eight medals with one of them gold - but has chosen not to for the World Indoor Championships which gets under way in Istanbul on Friday.

And the Dutchman puts that down to the likes of Jessica Ennis setting a massive new personal best over the 60 metre hurdles, and Holly Bleasdale and Sophie Hitchon breaking their own British records in the pole vault and hammer respectively.

"The world championships is always an event we take seriously, although not many athletes in the world will peak specifically for this as the most important event of the year is obviously the Olympic Games," Van Commenee said at the team's official press conference.

"Nevertheless, we selected a very strong group of athletes and we haven't had any difficulties since selection, they are all in good nick ready to perform well.

"Setting a target serves a purpose. It means if you don't hit the target you have to address things and take another policy or a different direction, different structure maybe.

"First of all there is no time for that any more being so close to the Games and secondly, I have seen so many good things this winter that I think we're on course to do a very good Olympics and there is no need to change things.

"If things don't go really well here that won't change anything for me. I have confirmation all the time, even last week with a British record in the hammer. Whether we have a great result or good result, or not such a good result here, that wouldn't change anything for me, so setting a target wouldn't serve a purpose."

Britain won four medals in Doha two years ago, with Ennis and Dwain Chambers winning gold in the pentathlon and 60m respectively, Jenny Meadows taking silver in the 800m and the men's 4x400m relay team claiming bronze.

Meadows is absent through injury, but Ennis and Chambers will be out to defend their titles, while world 5,000m champion Mo Farah competes over 3,000m and Bleasdale faces her idol and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva in the pole vault.

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