ATHLETICS: Best just misses out on World final
CRAWLEY AC runner Charlotte Best admits she has work to do to match up to training partner Lisa Dobriskey after filling the world silver medallist's spikes at the World Indoor Championships.
Best, an 800m specialist, clocked 4:16.26 minutes to finish eighth in the 1500m heats in Doha – missing out on a place in the final by 2.43 seconds.
The 24-year-old boarded the plane to Qatar after marking her return from an ankle injury by delivering a lifetime best at the UK trials in Sheffield in February.
And after locking horns with the likes of European Indoor silver medallist Natalia Rodriguez and world junior champion Kalkidan Gezahegne, Best insists she's hungry for more.
Best said: "It's good to see what it is like to race against the established names and now I have seen what Lisa is always up against.
"It was really hard out there, I felt fine until the last 400m and then I just didn't have the legs to stay with them.
"I've learnt lots of lessons and it was great to be on the world stage and compete against such a class field.
"It was fantastic to be on the same track and I thought I equipped myself well overall and it has definitely given me great encouragement.
"It isn't my preferred distance but it should work as a great stepping stone for the rest of the season."
Best served notice of her potential last year by claiming bronze at the Aviva Indoor Trials and UK Championships before finishing fifth at the outdoor equivalent.
And with the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games still to come in 2010, the Salfords runner is determined to book her place at both.
"I'm going to go off and do some warm weather training to get myself fully prepared for a big outdoor season," added Best.
"I want to compete in the 800m at both the Europeans and the Commonwealth Games - that is the target for me during my training.
"I probably have more chance of making the Commonwealth Games squad but I will try to do both because the Europeans would be brilliant.
"I'm sure my experience in Doha will only make me stronger heading into the rest of the season and it will also help me next time I am at a major championships."
Aviva has been proud to have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as they prepare for all major events and championships since 1999.
Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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