Athletics: Campbell called up to race Britain's bright young things

David Martin
Saturday 11 June 2005 00:00 BST
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Olympic relay gold medallist Darren Campbell will face the brightest hopes for the next generation of British sprinting in Bedford tomorrow.

Olympic relay gold medallist Darren Campbell will face the brightest hopes for the next generation of British sprinting in Bedford tomorrow.

The 31-year-old has been added to the 100 metres line-up at the Bedford International Games where Craig Pickering, 18, is expected to be the main threat. Pickering, from Milton Keynes, caught the eye with a time of 10.22 seconds for the 100m at the recent Loughborough International meeting.

That represents a significant mark-up on Campbell's quickest time of the year, a relatively slow 10.49sec, but the veteran Mancunian is confident of hitting top form for the Norwich Union world championship trials in a month's time.

The prospect of taking on Pickering is one which should inspire Campbell, who will captain the Norwich Union GB team at the Spar European Cup in Florence next week, according to BIG meeting director Carol Jackson.

She said: "He has run BIG a few times before in his build-up to major championships and he always raises the calibre of every meeting he contests. It will be particularly good for the top juniors to be able to measure themselves against him."

The second stage of this summer's UK Challenge Series also features Kelly Sotherton, the Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist, and former Commonwealth triple jump gold medallist Julian Golley.

Rather than competing in Germany, Sotherton has decided to contest the 100m hurdles and shot in Bedford. The sprint will see her face leading Britons Diane Allahgreen and Julie Pratt.

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