I've never been more confident says Craig
Pickeirng runs a career best in Czech Republic
After running the 100m of his life in Ostrava last week, Shenley Lodge sprinter Craig Pickering says the best form of his career is just around the corner.
Pickering finished second only to sporting phenonoman Usain Bolt as he ran a career best 10.08s at a IAAF Golden Spike fixture in the Czech Republic.
In the same race Bolt smashed the fastest time set anywhere in the world this year, as he cruised home in 9.77s.
Although with the wind speed on the night a fraction over the legal limit, both the Jamaican's and Pickering's times could not be officially recorded. But that didn't bother Pickering too much as his performance was the icing on the cake of a superb week for the 22-year-old.
"I managed to get a great start and everything just clicked into gear at the right time," explained the Milton Keynes Athletic Club runner, whose legal best is 10.14s.
"It felt like a great race and I'm really happy with it. Hopefully it means I'm hitting top form."
Pickering's week began with a victory at the pilot Super8 Series match in Cardiff when he won in 10.24s. And although that wasn't good enough to earn him a place in the Great Britain side for the European Team Championships in Portugal at the weekend, his performance in Ostrava was.
"I wasn't fast enough in Cardiff but I got the call in the end and it topped a good week," he said.
"Dwain (Chambers) was going to get the sprint place whatever happened, but I still like to be in the relay squads."
Pickering was left to watch from the stand as the 4x400 relay team won, but he did anchor the quartet of Simeon Williamson, Tyrone Edgar and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey to win the 4x100m relay in 39.26s.
Pickering now has a busy July ahead of him with IAAF Golden League fixtures in Norway, Italy, Spain, Germany and France still to come.
But the most important date in the sprinter's diary is the weekend of July 10-12, when the best of British compete for their places on the plane to Berlin for the World Championships.
And Pickering insists that as long as he's performing well, the constant traveling isn't too much of a problem.
"Last week I left Ostrava, took an internal flight to Prague, then spent several hours at Heathrow before flying to Portugal. And all the while I got about two hours sleep," he said.
"But I was really pleased with how the race went so it wasn't as bad as it might sound."
Despite Pickering's time in the Czech Republic not standing, his effort three lanes down from the current world record holder and fastest man on earth counted for a huge confidence boost.
Bolt still holds the 100m record for the 9.69s he ran to win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But the youngster insists that racing against the likes of Bolt is more inspiring than distracting.
"There is a huge circus around him, but you put all that out your mind and run your own race," he said.
"I'm really confident right now and feeling good, so I want to race against the best."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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