Stevenson plays down Dublin hopes as focus remains the track

By Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat

BRITAIN'S Ricky Stevenson insists he won't compete at March's World Cross Country Championships, even if he wins the European crown in Dublin on Sunday.

PRIORITIES: Ricky Stevenson is much fancied ahead of Cross Country Championships but is already thinking of track season (Getty Images)

The 21-year old is tipped to reach the podium in the under-23 race in Ireland having impressed to finish fourth at November's senior trials in Liverpool.

But despite the lofty expectations on Stevenson's shoulders, the New Marske runner insists the cross country season pales in comparison to his track ambitions and claimts he is feeling no pressure ahead of Sunday's race.

So much is Stevenson's focus on the track that the youngster is adamant he won't attend March's World Cross Country Championships in Poland, irrespective of his result in Dublin, for fear the event would interrupt his winter training schedule.

"I ran at the junior event in 2006 but had a really bad run that day so I'm looking forward to getting out there and putting things right," said Stevenson, who's track season peaked with a fifth-place at July's European under 23 Championships in Kaunas.

"My main events are definitely the 1500m and the 800m, so it's good that I can do a major event like this but not feel too much pressure and really look forward to it.

"Obviously there's still pressure because I'm British number one and tipped for a medal but I'm still feeling quite relaxed about it.

"Even if I win I won't bother with the worlds. After February or March time, training starts to change again and while I've got plenty in me at the moment because I'm not in hard training, it will change at that point.

"It's a system that I like and one that I know works. I don't want to change to compete in an extra cross country event - it would interrupt things."

While he may be the best British hope in the under-23 race, Stevenson won't be the most high-profile with recently-crowned world triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee also in attendance.

But Stevenson is adamant the presence of a British world champion can only rub off positively on the rest of the British squad.

And the Brit admitted he will try and soak up some of Brownlee's experience ahead of a season in which he hopes to make his senior breakthrough at July's European Championships in Barcelona or September's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

"I don't know Ali that well actually but it's good to be on the team with a professional athlete," said Stevenson.

"Obviously triathlon is his main sport but I beat him by quite a long way at the trials. However, to have someone with his experience is really useful.  Having a world champion around is a motivational boost for us all.

"Obviously, the Europeans and the Commonwealth Games are the two big championships next year.  While it would be fantastic to be at either of them, I'm not really setting myself the target of making them.

"If I did that, I feel like I would be setting myself up for a fall and I don't want to look too far ahead at this point.  I just want to concentrate on having a good early season and progress my times as much as possible."