With the 2012 BUCS Indoor Championships this weekend, we have taken a look at some of the athletes to check out in Sheffield.
The competition has been the breeding ground for many UK athletes over the years, and this year it is no different, with many GB Internationals on the bill.
Last year, Loughborough stole the team honours, but this year, many Universities, including the closest ones in Brunel, Birmingham, UWIC and Bath, will be hoping to steal their thunder, and return home victorious.
What is sure though, is that the standard of the championships will be as high as ever, especially with the following athletes ready to battle it out at the EIS.
Guy Learmonth- Loughborough- (800m)
Guy Learmonth is quite simply the fastest Under 23 over 800mís in the UK. The Loughborough star is the reigning 800m BUCS champion indoors, holds the Championship Best time, and is a GB international.
2011 was a fantastic year for Learmonth, but he has already cranked up the pressure on his fellow athletes in 2012, by breaking the 1.48minute barrier this season for the very first time.
His incredible running style saw him record the second fastest 800m indoors ever from an Under 20 athlete. What is however more scary is that he is only getting better.
ìMy preparations have been brilliant, so much better than last year. I’ve worked extremely hard over the winter, increased my†mileage†and general strength work, along with drills twice a week to help improve my running style which has been needed to be improved for years. On top of this my diet has also changed dramatically, I’ve lost a bit of weight and became much leaner and with my performance at the Aviva Grand Prix it’s great to see that all these changes are working,î he said.
More worryingly is that he believes he can smash the Championship best performance one again this year.
ìObviously, the first goal is to make sure I retain my title. As always there are some good athletes entered so it will be a great race again this year. Depending how I feel on the day, it would be nice to attack my CBP this year.
ìI feel I can still go a second quicker than what I did last week, but it’s a three round championship race so not sure if I’ll be able to show the exact form I’m in,î he said.
Despite his recent progression Learmonth remains grounded and although he believes he can reach the times needed to go to the Olympics, realises that 2012 may just come a bit too soon.
ìI think when everyone hears 2012 they just think of the Olympics, and I’m certainly one who does. Although, I don’t want to get carried away, I firstly want to get back to training after this weekend for another 6-8 weeks to prepare for the Outdoors. I will definitely be targeting the time of 1.46.80 for the European Championships first, and anything other than that will be a huge bonus. The Olympics would be nice, but I have to be realistic, I’m only 19, so 2016 will be my time,î he said.
The Loughborough boy is also keen to keep the winning streak going for his University.
ìBUCS Champs is the event for every University and they all want to win, and with Loughborough’s 37 year (I think) winning streak, we never want that to end. Everyone will raise their game, we’ll feed off each other and hopefully all run to the best of our abilities,î he said.
Learmonth is one of the most exciting prospects in GB athletics, and his races will no doubt be one of the highlights of the whole Championships. He could well be walking away with the gold medal this weekend and another CBP for good measure too.
Karla Drew- Sheffield Hallam- (60mH, High Jump and 4x200m Relay)
Sheffield Hallamís Heptathlete Karla Drew has one of the busiest schedules over the weekend, competing in the 60mH, High Jump and a leg in Hallamís 4x200m Relay. But as she explains, these championships are far more than just a bit of fun for her.
ìI ran a Personal Best in the hurdles a couple weeks ago (8.59) and I will be looking to consolidate this time or run faster. If I do this, then I think I should have a good chance at getting a medal in this event.
ìThe high jump this indoor season has been a little inconsistent for me. I will be using this competition to work on some technical points and to try and be more consistent in my run-up. I would like to jump 1.70m or higher (my PB is 1.72),î she said.
Unlike some other athletes competing at the Championship, Drew has not focussed solely on this competition, but she still believes she can perform to a high standard on this stage.
ìTo be honest, my training hasnít particularly been changed to target the BUCS, because I am a combined eventer, my main focus this indoor season has been the two pentathlons I have done.
ìHowever, my training is still going really well and I think I am in good shape, so I expect some good performances in my single events,î she said.
Although she hasn’t trained specifically for these BUCS championships they are something she would not miss, as she enjoys being part of a team rather than an individual.
ìIt is nice to be part of a team as athletics is usually an individual sport so it is good to have that extra support to spur you on to PBís,î she said.
Drew is hoping to build on some good performances this weekend in her 2012 season, with a new heptathlon PB the ultimate target.
ìI hope to increase my heptathlon PB from 5061 to 5200-5300 points as well as improving my personal best times and distances in all seven of the heptathlon disciplines,î she said.
One thing for certain this weekend is that Drew will be doing many events, and everyone will have a chance to see the next Heptathlon sensation to come out of Sheffield.
Andrew Pozzi- West of England- (60mH)
One of the best hurdlers around, 19 year old Andrew Pozzi, will be hoping to go one step further this year with victory in the 60mH.
The hurdling star has recently been selected for the World Indoor Championships in Turkey in March yet despite this he is fully focussed on winning the BUCS Indoors.
ìI am aiming to win my first BUCS Gold medal and in the process I hope to break the nine year old Championship record of 7.78s.
ìMy preparations have gone very well. I have improved my PB significantly and have consistently run times around my new PB, which is great for me. I have won the Aviva UK Championships and World Trials,î he said.
For Pozzi though, these championships offer him another chance to show how good he really is.
He already holds the fastest time in the UK this year over 60mh and is the 5th fastest European. But as he explains, his goals lie towards the summer.
ìI, like many others, hope to achieve the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying standard of 13.53s, which would be a PB, and therefore be eligible for selection for the London 2012 Olympic Games. I would like to achieve an Outdoor Senior GB representation at either the Olympics or the European Championships,î he said.
However you should not underestimate the importance these Championships play to Pozzi, and how much he loves representing his University.
ìI enjoy competing at the BUCS Championships because the standard is good. I like the social side of the event and I enjoy seeing†University team spirit amongst various universities,î he said.
The West of England scholar is certain of a fine future in the sport, and he could well clock another superb time this weekend in Sheffield.
Michael Sweeney- Birmingham (60mH, Pole Vault, High Jump and Shot Put)
Birminghamís Michael Sweeney will be taking the term team player to new heights this weekend as the decathlon star tackles four disciplines in Sheffield.
Sweeney, who is no stranger to hard work, has high hopes in the competition, especially in the High Jump.
ìI would like to come out of the Championships with a PB in one event, and am hoping to jump 2 metres in high jump (pb 2.04) which could place me quite high in the final,î he said.
He also believes that he is in the shape of his life before the BUCS championships.
ìPreparations have gone really well. I started to sharpen up this week for it and feel great. I am coming into the champs having set Personal Bests in the 60m and 60mH in the past two weeks and I am in very good jumping and vaulting form,î he said.
The difficulty for Sweeney will however be the constant scrutiny he is under from other multi eventers at the events yet it is something that does not faze him.
ìYou are always conscious that your performances will be scrutinised by your fellow decathletes as well as any potential selectors.
ìItís always good to go out and perform a PB in an individual event when you know in a decathlon it means more and possibly that extra incentive will lead to bigger and better things in a multi-events competition,î he said.
Sweeney has far greater goals though, with the 7000 point mark his overall aim this season.
ìI want to go over 7000 points in the decathlon outdoors and although this is some 950 points off the Olympic B qualifying standard, 7000 points is a huge barrier in the development of a decathlete,î he said.
With so many events to partake in, and the chance of further personal best performances, Sweeney will once again be a huge part of Birminghamís push to the very top.
Liam Ramsay- Sheffield Hallam- (60mH, 200m, 4x200m Relay)
Another one of Sheffield Hallamís stars, Liam Ramsey will be facing possibly the most gruelling of schedules if all goes to plan.
One of the fastest sprinters in the competition, Ramsay could well run six races on the Sunday, and pick up 3 medals.
The local lad is hoping to assess his form through this event.
ìBeing a multi eventer, I use the single event championships to see where Iím at and how Iím progressing with individual events. Obviously I still want to do as well and be as competitive as I can for myself and to help my team so a PB would be nice,î he said.
However, preparations have not been easy for Ramsay who has had to deal with an early injury in this important development year.
ìEarly on in winter training I twisted my ankle so I have not had as long training as I would of liked but Iíve been back training for a couple of months now and feel in good shape,î he said.
The Hallam athlete is however focused on competing in his first championships, and doing well for his team, and experiencing something new.
ìCompeting for your university is different from other competitions as you are not always competing against the same people as you are in club athletics. I went to watch last year and the atmosphere is really good so Iím looking forward to running with that atmosphere,î he said.
With no major under 23 Championships this season, Ramsay is hoping to use this experience as a platform to success and development at a senior level and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
ìThe biggest target is the UK Decathlon championship at the end of May. With it being my first year in the senior age Iím really just looking to see what sort of score I can get with the senior implements,î he said.
With regards to the championships, Ramsay could well be one to look out for. If all goes to plan, his effort and schedule will be fully deserving of any medals he achieves.
