Flannery doesn’t feel under pressure

Jul 3 2010 The Journal

NIALL Flannery admits he will be drinking in the last chance saloon at the Mannheim International this weekend – but the Gateshead ace insists he’s not feeling the pressure, writes TOM REYNOLDS.

Flannery has spent the last two months desperately striving to achieve the UK Athletics qualification standard to book his spot at the World Junior Championships in Canada.

However, the 400m hurdles time of 51.50seconds has eluded him so far – the 19-year-old finishing just 0.21 shy at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham over the weekend.

His second city setback means he heads to Germany this weekend knowing his chance of making it to Canada is dwindling by the minute.

But Flannery is adamant the time is within his reach and has vowed to roar under the 51.5second barrier this weekend.

“I thought I would be close to the qualifier in Birmingham and it was, but I was just outside again which is getting a bit annoying,” said Flannery – who will pull on the GB vest in Germany this weekend.

“But I have just got to take it and take the positives and look forward.

“There is still hope and while there is I will not be giving up until the very last minute.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get through to the final with that time but I didn’t really expect to and it was going to be a bonus if I did.

“I have been selected for the GB international against Germany in Mannheim which I am looking forward to and hopefully I can put in a good performance there and secure my place for Canada.

“It is perhaps a good sign that I have been selected for that because it shows that I am in people’s minds with the World Juniors coming up.

“I can’t wait to get out there, pull on the GB vest again and go out there and give it a really good go. I have nothing to lose – absolutely nothing to lose – so I will give it everything and you never know.”

Flannery has prior experience of the German track having raced at the same meet in 2009 – finishing in a personal best time of 51.32seconds.

And he insists the events of last year will be at the forefront of his mind this time round.

“It is a quick track out there and I ran a PB there last year so the signs are good,” added Flannery. “I can’t really say it’s not a place that suits quick times because when I went last year it was obviously an upgrade on the Beijing track they ran in so at that time it was the best track in the world.

UKA Heroes project, sponsored by Original Source, is a successful initiative which offers financial support to talented young athletes who are working towards the 2012 and 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.