Athletics
Pozzi lifts top award

STRATFORD hurdler Andrew Pozzi brought the curtain down on a superb 2011 in star-studded style on Saturday by winning the Spar Outstanding Athlete of the Year award in front of Jess Ennis and Jenny Meadows.

The 19-year-old was a guest at the season finale dinner as part of the Spar Sprint Stars Programme, enjoying a night out with the great and the good of British athletics at the impressive Park Plaza Westminster Hotel.

And it was no surprise the night’s top award found its way into Pozzi’s hands, with the Avon Spa AC star claiming European Junior 110m hurdles silver back in July from his trip to Estonia.

But, despite his breakthrough year that also saw the former Alcester Grammar School pupil win both the indoor and outdoor Under-20 British Championships, Pozzi insists he is far from finished with London 2012 fast approaching.

“Overall I’m pretty happy with my year and to win the Spar Outstanding Athlete of the Year just tops it all off,” said Pozzi.

“The season before last I was injured for the whole year, so to be at the point I’m at now, if you’d have told me that 12 months ago, I’d have been very pleased.

“Estonia was certainly a highlight for me - it didn’t go exactly as I would have liked, but it was a great experience for me.

“I was a bit disappointed with the silver, I was hoping to win and get the gold. However, looking back in perspective, it was my first ever major championship final internationally. I’ve come a long way in a short period of time.

“I think any athlete in Britain is thinking about 2012 and I am no different. I’m beginning to look at personal goals, qualifying standards and selection criteria and, if I focus on my own training, that’s what will get me there.”

Despite his young age Pozzi, from Stratford, feels an appearance in the capital next year is not out of the question.

And under the tutelage of renowned coach Malcolm Arnold, who inspired Dai Greene to 400m hurdles gold at this summer’s World Championships, Pozzi admits he could not ask for better surroundings.

“I’m very lucky that my coach Malcolm Arnold is very experienced with athletes going to major championships,” he added.

“He’ll make sure that I’m peaking come selections and the Olympic Games.

“I’ll be doing the indoor season, but my training is geared towards the outdoor season and being best prepared for a London 2012 spot.”

THIS was brought to you by SPAR, official sponsors of UK Athletics. For more information visit www.spar.co.uk.