STRATFORD AC’S Andy Pozzi is hoping he can produce ‘something special’ against some of the world’s best when he competes in this weekend’s Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham.
Pozzi retained his 60 metres hurdles crown at the British Athletics Indoor Team Trials in Sheffield last weekend to book his place in the European Indoor Championships next month.
The 24-year-old equalled his world-leading time of 7.44 seconds in the heats and then raced home a clear winner in the final in a time of 7.51.
Pozzi’s target is to challenge for a medal in the Europeans in Belgrade, which take place from March 3-5, but, closer to home on Saturday, he wants to impress at the Barclaycard Arena when his rivals include 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt.
Pozzi, who finished fourth at the 2012 and 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships, is a man in form have clocked a world-leading 7.49 in the heats of the IAAF World Indoor Tour in Karlsruhe, Germany, and then an even faster 7.44 in the final to take the scalps of defeating world and Olympic medallists.
“I’m really happy that everything is coming together,” said Pozzi.
“Winter training has gone well and I’m in great shape, so I’ll be looking to produce something special at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix.”
Pozzi endured a frustrating Rio, bowing out in the semi-finals, but he feels there is plenty more to come in 2017.
“I’m elated to be running these types of times with quite big flaws and being displeased with it so I’m made up with the times and hopefully they’ll continue to drop,” he said.
“The main aim is to win in Belgrade, now I have quite a quick time to my name and there is more (to come) but it’s about winning medals now.
“I feel like training is really coming together and my routine is actually beginning to resemble that of a normal athlete, so I feel like I’m starting to produce what has been there for the last four or five years.”
