Defiant Devonish

Published 29 Jul 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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Athletics

SPRINTER Marlon Devonish insists he is worth his place in the World Championship squad after the Team GB squad bound for Berlin next month (August) was confirmed on Tuesday, writes Chris Cottrell.

The 33-year-old - who trains at Thames Valley AC - has suffered with hamstring and neck injuries but still managed to send a last-minute message to UK Athletics chiefs coming fifth in the 200m in the Aviva London Grand Prix.

Langley resident Devonish had been sweating on his place in the squad after finishing second at the World Trials behind Toby Sandeman, but was included in the 60-strong team this week.

And speaking after his impressive display in Crystal Palace last weekend, Devonish - who won Olympic relay gold in 2004 - was convinced he has done enough to book his place on the plane to Germany.

"I think I've done enough for selection now - I finished second in the trials and I got the qualifying time," said Devonish, who was just outside a season best time at Crystal Palace with a run of 20.60 seconds - but was still well done on America's Tyson Gay who won in a time of 20.00.

"I haven't had the best preparation this year so the more I race the better. I'm lacking race fitness more than anything but I'm moving in the right direction now."

With Olympic champion Usain Bolt - who only competed in the 100m - also competing in Berlin, Devonish knows he requires a massive improvement to make the podium in Germany.

But the former Olympic gold medallist is convinced he can mix it with the sport's big guns providing he can iron out some technical problems.

He added: "I've got to work on my turn because I can't handle the speed I'm generating there at the moment but I need that speed round the turn to compete with these guys.

"I'm very strong, I'm not dying at all at the end so my fitness isn't a problem. It's technical attributes coming out of that turn.

"If I get my turn right I'll be in the mix in and it is not going to be as easy as Bolt thinks in Berlin."

But fellow 2004 gold-medallist Mark Lewis-Francis will not be in Berlin after failing to make the 100m final in Crystal Palace.

The 26-year-old, who also trains at Thames Valley, crossed the line in 10.70 as Jamaican duo Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell and American Ivory Williams all progressed within one hundredth of a second of each other.

Also on the plane to Germany is Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow's Nigel Levine in the 4x400m relay squad.

As Principal Partner of UKA, McCain has a long term commitment to athletics that will have a significant impact on the development of athletic talent in the UK and will increase opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in the sport. For more information visit www.mccaintrackandfield.co.uk.

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 31 Jul 09

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