Athletics: Jackson plans busy schedule

COLIN JACKSON has mapped out an ambitious campaign to silence his critics this year. Britain's 110 metres hurdles stalwart came in for criticism after deciding not to run in the Commonwealth Games. But he is beginning his preparations for this year's World Champion-ships in Spain with a hectic indoor season.

Jackson revealed in Birmingham yesterday that he will compete in seven meetings before taking part in the BUPA Indoor Grand Prix at the National Indoor Arena next month. "It is nice to prove people wrong, and that is my intention this year," Jackson said. "Obviously, I have had a change of plan. I did say I would never race indoors again, yet here I am again preparing for the indoor circuit.

"It is a very important year for me and this is the reason why I feel it is important to race indoors. I'm concentrating on the Seville World Championships. It is important to get back on to the world stage and win that outdoor title in Seville."

In Birmingham's 60m hurdles he will face a quality field headed by the American indoor specialist, Courtney Hawkins. The 1995 world indoor silver medallist has previously beaten Jackson and that is another reason why the Welshman is so keen to perform well.

The men's 60m meanwhile, will feature Canada's double world indoor sprint champion, Bruny Surin, who will be up against his Greek rival, Haralambos Papadias.

The Russian Irina Privalova will make her first visit to Britain since breaking the NIA stadium record for the women's 60m in 1995. She heads the 60m field, which also includes the world indoor 60m silver medallist Chandra Sturrup and her fellow Bahamas athlete Sevatheda Fynes, the 100m bronze medallist in Athens.

Darren Campbell, the Euro-pean 100m gold medallist, will compete indoors for the first time in three years at the AAA Indoor Championships, also in Birmingham. Campbell races over 60m at the NIA on 30 and 31 January.

The meeting doubles as a trial for the indoor world championships and the appearance of Campbell, John Regis and Christian Malcolm will raise its profile. It was thought that Campbell, like most of Britain's top sprinters, would miss the indoor season. But he too will be using it to get into shape for the outdoor season.