Asha Philip wants three things at the World Indoor Championships in Poland – a place in the 60m final, Jeanette Kwakye’s British record and most of all to make up for her last appearance.
Philip is the equal third fastest athlete indoors over 60m in the world this season having clocked a personal best of 7.09 seconds in winning the British title in Sheffield last month.
That would naturally place the 23-year-old Londoner among the favourites to medal not just simply reach the final – the first of her goals at the Championship in Sopot.
Philip, who needs to find just 0.02 to lower Kwakye’s six-year-old British indoor 60m record, failed to make the final in Istanbul in 2012 by one place and half that margin.
But she is confident she can meet her targets – insisting the key to it is all is getting to Sunday’s final at the Ergo Arena in the northern Polish city of Sopot.
“The aim is to definitely get into the final because I missed out two years ago and I’m determined to make it this time around,” said Philip.
“It’s one of my main aims to get a faster time, and I know if I’m in that final hopefully I’ll get the British record.
“I think it’s a good thing that I have the opportunity to compete against the best, because it’s all about going up against the big girls in international competitions and getting thrown into the deep end.
“The more I race against them, the more my confidence will build and it will feel natural to me.”
© Sportsbeat 2014