LONDON 2012: Chambers to use Bolt test to push Olympic qualification

Posted: Friday 25th May 2012 | 12:39

SPRINTER Dwain Chambers is hoping to hang onto world record holder Usain Bolt's coat tails to ensure he makes Olympic qualification for London 2012.

BIG TIME: Chambers is looking forward to racing against sprinting's big guns again on Friday

The 34-year-old will go against the Olympic 100m and 200m gold medallist in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Friday as he hones his own preparation for the GB trials next month.

And Chambers, who was just outside the GB B-standard qualifying time of 10.24 seconds at the CityGames in Manchester, knows he can make all his hard work pay off by staying close to Bolt.

"Whenever you get the chance to race against Usain, you take it," said Chambers.

"He's in 9.82 form, so I've just got to do my best to cling to him. It'll be nice to run with him.

"I've still got to hit qualifying time to make all this hard work justified so I'll get myself prepared for Ostrava and the relay in Rome and then it's pretty much countdown to the trials.

"To be the best, you've got to compete against the best in the world. Those opportunities weren't available to me, but now they are.

"I've automatically got to get to a different mind-set, and I've got to get my mind onto going against runners who are sub 9.8 seconds effectively."

Chambers has had two outings so far this season - an emotional return to sprinting in front of a welcoming British crowd and a rusty performance at the Ponce Grand Prix in Puerto Rico earlier this month.

The 2010 world indoor 60m champion medallist ran a disappointing 10.52 in his first outing, but believes he is getting better, race-by-race and is looking forward to proving himself against the best.

He said: "I haven't been in that calibre for some time. I don't get the chance to race against the fastest in the world, but I have now and I'm looking forward to that.

"I'll take 10.26 (in Manchester). Better than the 10.52. I don't know what happened there. The gun went bang and I wasn't there. I was a bit nervous, coming out and hoping to be in good shape, but it's one of those things that happens.

"But now I'm glad that I've been able to run a little faster and I'll do better and better with each race."