Sprinter Talbot eyeing individual London 2012 berth

By Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat

DANNY Talbot admits he would settle for a London 2012 relay berth if it were offered to him now - but vowed to do everything in his power to claim an individual spot at next year's Olympics.

BIG PLANS: Danny Talbot was selected as part of the World Championships squad but he didn't get a run out in Daegu

The 20-year-old got his first taste of a major senior international meet at the recent Daegu World Championships, where he formed part of the British 4x100m relay squad.

Talbot didn't run in South Korea, nor did he even expect to, as the quartet of Christian Malcolm, Craig Pickering, Marlon Devonish and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey cruelly failed to finish the final.

The Birchfield Harrier looked at one stage to be on course for a 200m individual outing in Daegu but, despite running an A standard time of 20.54 seconds, a fifth-place finish at the trials effectively cost him. Talbot's time however is under the Olympic A standard and, having had to watch from the stands in South Korea, he is determined to not only be on the track in London but running individually too.

"Being at the World Championships was fantastic - I loved it - and just being out there with all the senior guys was really inspiring," said Talbot, who benefits from the Spar Sprints Stars scheme.

"Right now if I was offered just a relay place for 2012 I would be a bit disappointed but if that is all I can achieve it will still be great as it will be my first Olympics at the age of 21.

"It will be good to be involved in the relay again but I want to be there individually too - watching at the World Championships in the stands was quite hard to take.

"The times run to get into the semi-finals and final weren't that great - so I really want to be running individually but being part of the relay would be great too."

Talbot's main aim for the season was the European Under-23 Championships in Ostrava, where he finished fourth, and he cites his attempt at an individual world run were hampered because of that.

But with the London 2012 Olympics the words on everyone's lips next year, despite the senior European Championships being held just weeks before, Talbot insists he'll benefit from having one focus.

"I got the qualifying time for the worlds at the beginning of the year and it was a bit unfortunate that I couldn't hold on for the whole season," he added.

"I was aiming for the European Under-23s and that was a long time before the worlds came along and indeed the European Under-23s were before the world trials.

"But the Olympics next year are at a similar time to when the European Under-23s were this year and that should help when it comes to planning and that is when I will want my best performances."

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