Sanders staying cautious over her World Championship chances
Posted: Monday 27th July 2009 | 13:56
By Chris Cottrell, Sportsbeat
NICOLA Sanders is playing down expectations after running herself into a place on Great Britain’s World Athletics Championships team.
Two years ago, the 27-year old won 400m silver behind team-mate Christine Ohuruogu in Osaka but has struggled since to recapture that form.
Injuries plagued her Olympic season and she missed the world trials in Birmingham this month, only to record the qualifying standard with a 51.21 second victory at last weekend’s Aviva Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.
“It’s hard to know how I’m going to perform at the moment,” said Sanders.
"Obviously I want to do all I can to get on the podium in Berlin but I have only been in really good training for two weeks or so.
"So I am playing it by ear at the moment. The time at Crystal Palace wasn’t great but the conditions were tough and on the home straight, it was really windy.
"But I was pleased with the way I ran - I went off really fast which was pleasing and then it was just a case of hanging on at the end.
“I was told once I got back from injury that if I could get near the qualifying time I would be good for Berlin.”
Sanders will race again in Stockholm before heading to the sunshine of the Algarve, venue for the British team’s preparation camp.
“If I can put in another good race in Stockholm that should give me a better idea of where I am at and what I need to do,” she added.
"I beat some good people at Crystal Palace and I’m taking lots of confidence from that race.
“The past year has been frustrating with injuries but I feel much better now and I don’t have any problems.”
British officials will announce their Berlin team tomorrow and are expected to include Ohuruogu, who is facing a fitness battle to be ready for the defence of her title.