Thamesmead sprinter edges closer to living 2012 dream
11:23am Thursday 28th July 2011 in Athletics
David Bolarinwa. SPORTSBEAT.
By Tom Reynolds
DAVID Bolarinwa insists European junior championship gold has convinced him that the 200m might be his ticket to the greatest show on earth next year at London 2012.
The precocious Thamesmead youngster has long been tipped for the top in the sprinting world after two Youth Olympic medals in 2010, but over the 100m.
However, after labouring to third in Estonia in the 100m it was in the 200m that he announced himself on the continental scene last week, winning gold in a highly impressive 21.07s, despite racing into a strong headwind.
While the GB 100m ranks are relatively stacked for next year’s Olympic Games qualification, the 200m on paper appears wide open, with Bolarinwa less than half-a-second outside the A standard qualification time.
But despite his triple medal haul in Estonia where Bolarinwa also won 4x100m silver, the 17-year-old believes the 200m might be the basket he needs to put his London 2012 qualification eggs in.
“The European Juniors were a great championship for me,” said Bolarinwa.
“I didn’t perform to the best of my ability in the 100m so to come back and run so well in the 200m was great. My coach likes me to run more than one event so I won’t be just concentrating on the 200m now but I do think it might be my best chance to get to London 2012.
“The 200m was a great time for me because I was running into a strong headwind and so I think I could have gone a fair bit quicker.
“The 100m has a lot of very good runners in as does the 200m but I think the 200m could be really open in terms of London 2012 qualification so if I work really hard on it I may have a good chance.”
There will be no rest for Bolarinwa after his Eastern European adventure with the world trials and UK championships at Birmingham this weekend, followed by the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace a week later.
The Grand Prix will see Bolarinwa line up alongside his silver medal-winning European junior championship counterparts against senior relay teams from all over the world, an experience he’s relishing.
“Racing at Crystal Palace will be a great experience, especially to race against some top senior athletes will be great,” added Bolarinwa.
“It’s all part of the learning curve for me and it will just be about making sure we execute a good race with good changeovers and try and get a fast time.”
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