McKee training in Barcelona

Belfast's Paul McKee won joint-bronze with Jamie Baulch in Birmingham

World Indoor bronze medallist Paul McKee is spending six weeks in Barcelona in preparation for the upcoming outdoor season.

The Belfastman is still on a high from his tremendous performance in Birmingham last month when he claimed Ireland's first ever world championship sprint medal.

"I'm staying with British 400 metre hurdler Anthony Borsumato and my coach Billy Kelly is also out here for 10 days," McKee told BBC Sport Interactive.

"I got a good session in yesterday with a couple of Scottish guys who are out here with Ballymena & Antrim athlete Ian Neely".

McKee will use the six weeks in Spain to try and ensure that he can hit the ground running when his outdoor season begins in June.

Despite his world indoor medal, McKee has still to achieve the standard for the World Championships in Paris.

I'd like to open up quick and get the qualifier within a few races

Paul McKee

His national record set last summer (45.58) is .03 outside the world standard.

"I've gone back a phase in training to build the endurance to help see me through to August.

"I won't start racing until June although I'm not sure exactly where I will begin my outdoor season.

"My agent Ricky Simms is looking at races in Italy and Seville.

"I'd like to open up quick and get the qualifier within a few races and then get some quick 200m in.

"I think if I run 20.5 or 20.6 over 200m before Paris then I have a chance of going sub-45 for 400m which is a huge target of mine".