Meadows keeping feet firmly on the ground

JENNY Meadows insists she will be taking nothing for granted at the Aviva British Grand Prix on Monday despite her bronze medal heroics at the recent World Championships.

 FULLY FOCUSED: Jenny Meadows is keeping her eye on the ball ahead of the British Grand Prix despite her world bronze medal

Meadows, 28, moved to third on the all time British 800m list - behind only Olympic champion Kelly Holmes and Kirsty Wade with her third place finish in Berlin.

Her time of 1:57.93m - a lifetime best - also moved the ‘Pocket Rocket' to sixth in the 2009 rankings as she outshone fellow Brits Jemma Simpson and Marilyn Okoro in the Olympiastadion.

But while British champion Simpson failed to reach the final in Berlin and while Okoro could only manage eighth in the final, Meadows is adamant she would be a fool to take her eye off the ball in Gateshead.

"In some events in Britain, someone is the clear British No 1," said Meadows. "But in the 800m, it is fantastic because not only have the same three girls made the team for three years, there are always girls who you are scared of, who are up-and-coming, and you are always looking over your shoulder.

"The three of us are the British 1-2-3 but there is always someone who could sneak ahead of us so it keeps us propelling ourselves - they are both excellent competitors.

"And I am really looking forward to competing at Gateshead because I always love the British meets. All my family come to watch and I just always really enjoy it.

"Hopefully the Gateshead fans can expect some really good performances because a lot of the people on the British team are coming into some really good shape at this time of the year.

"We will all be given it our all and hopefully giving some good performances."

Meanwhile, Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu will be bidding to get back to winning ways in the north east, after relinquishing her world title to the USA's Sanya Richards.

"I think the Gateshead fans can expect a really good meeting up there because there are going to be a lot of high quality athletes there and it will be a really good field," she added.

"It always attracts some high quality athletes and I'm sure this year will be the same.

"I love competing in Gateshead partly because of the quality of the field they always have there and also just because it is always a good atmosphere."