Potter cool about European Cross-Country Championship chances

By George Scott, Sportsbeat

MIDDLE-distance runner Beth Potter is playing down her chances ahead of this weekend's European Cross-Country Championships in Dublin.


TAKING IT STEADY: Beth Potter has set her sights on a top-six finish in Dublin

Potter is part of a six-strong junior women's team competing, which includes last year's bronze medallist Lauren Howarth.

The 17-year-old Potter endured a frustrating summer, finishing fifth in the 3000m at the European Junior Championships with her slowest time of the season.

And Potter admits she is not getting ahead of herself as she prepares for Sunday's 4039m showdown in Ireland.

"I'm really looking forward to getting out there and racing," said Potter, a member of the UK Athletics Heroes scheme, sponsored by Original Source, which offers financial support to the next generation of British track and field stars.

"I've been taking it easy over the last couple of weeks to make sure I don't get injured.

"I'm aiming for the top six - I'd be happy with that.  A medal would be great but I don't want to set a target which is too ambitious.

Potter joined Loughborough University, a UKA High Performance Centre, to study Physics in September and switched coaches to John Nuttall.

The East Midlands university has a rich middle-distance history and double Olympic gold medallist Lord Sebastian Coe and World Championship silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey are among its alumni.

And national under-20 3000m champion Potter insists the move is just what is needed to kick-start her fledgling international career.

"I'm not training as much as I used to but the quality of my training is a lot better," she added. "But I'll be stepping it up over the holidays so I won't get much of a break.

"Going to uni was a huge life change and it's difficult to balance all the work, washing, cooking and then training.

"But I'm really enjoying it and there are some great athletes at Loughborough so there's always someone to run with or test yourself against."

UKA Heroes project sponsored by Original Source is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.