Duck eyeing Olympic selection fight
City sprinter on the long road to London
Hanslope sprinter Joey Duck has been speaking about her London 2012 bid, which could see her go head-to-head with former Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.
The 20-year-old specialises in the 100 and 200m, and finished second in the 200 at the British Championships, before helping GB win gold in the sprint relay of the European U23 Championships later in 2009.
But as her body continues to develop the Milton Keynes AC member has now begun the transition to the 400m where she hopes to compete alongside the likes of Ohuruogu and 2007 World silver medal winner Nicola Sanders.
And although Duck - who reached the 400 final at the 2008 British Olympic Trials - is targeting a sprint position at this summer's European and Commonwealth Games, she admits her long-term future lies in the one lap event.
She said: "I am doing more training now towards the 200 and 400. I have always been a 200 and 400 runner and it was just always a case of when would I make that transition to more 400 training.
"My body seems to be more suited to the 400 and I always knew it would happen.
"Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders have done fantastically well in the 400 and I train with Christine at the Lee Valley and have had a few sessions with her.
"2010 is an important year looking ahead to 2012. I hope to make the transition to the senior GB squad and compete in the relay and individually as well, and really start to put my name on the map by making teams for major competitions."
It wasn't all positive for Duck last season though, with her failing to make the final of the 200m at the European Championships in Lithuania. The disappointment of missing out on selection for a World Championship relay squad place then followed.
But with no plans to compete during the indoor season, and the winter dedicated to training, she says it's full steam ahead for European and Commonwealth selection.
"I have the European Championships and Commonwealth Games to aim for and it is good that I have two big things to attack," added Duck.
"The British team might be quite split up across the two events so both competitions will be open, so my target is to make one of the senior teams at least.
"Last season was really up and down and just before I went to the U23 Championship I enjoyed the biggest really up moment at the British Championships when I won silver in the 200m. But then I didn't run as well as I had hoped in Lithuania, but then won gold in the relay.
"After that there were talks about going to the World Championships as part of the relay team but it didn't work out – although it was very close and it taught me a lot."
Duck is training for success in the new NikeWomen Fly Sister One shoe, featuring Diamond FLX technology.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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