Mark fails to hit the mark

Published 19 Feb 2010 09:00 0 Comments

Athletics

MARK Lewis-Francis admits the odds are stacked against him returning to sprinting's top table after missing out on the medals at the Aviva World Indoor Trials and UK Championships, writes David Jordan.

The Thames Valley-based athlete cruised through both his heat and his semi-final in pole position but failed to overhaul medal-winning trio Dwain Chambers, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Craig Pickering in the 60m final.

Having struggled to hit the heights that saw him claim Olympic relay gold in 2004, Lewis-Francis' National Lottery funding was withdrawn last year by no-nonsense UKA head coach Charles van Commenee.

But after refusing to throw in the towel on his athletics career, the 27-year-old has vowed to do everything it takes to get back among the world's elite.

"It's hard for me, I'm not funded and I'm working as hard as I can but it is tough," said Lewis-Francis.

"I know it is a long way back to the top and I'm putting the hours in - maybe that shows having no funding works.

"It's back to how it all started for me so I'm starting again and it is very hard.

"I've got no support, the only support is from friends and family so I'm battling to make some money and make something of my career.

"It would have been great from every perspective to get to Doha and get some good runs in and compete at the top again.

"It was a terrible run in the final though and I'm really annoyed with it. On the other hand you can't knock what the other guys have run.

"The best men won on the day and I can't knock that so I just have to get back and get working hard."

Aviva is proud to have been the No. 1 sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and is committed to developing the sport at every level, from playground to podium. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information.

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 19 Feb 10

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