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BBC Sport Online: Wales


Friday, 6 July, 2001, 14:43 GMT 15:43 UK

Fear spurring Campbell on



Darren Campbell belives he can still hit his season's targets
Darren Campbell says the fear of not making the team for this year's World Championships is spurring on his battle against injury.

The Olympic silver medalist's season has been disrupted after he hurt his hamstring and he has watched his British rivals make a big impression on the international stage.

Dwain Chambers clocked 10 seconds flat in finishing third behind Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon at the Lausanne Grand Prix on Wednesday.

Rising teenage star Mark Lewis-Francis, Welshman Christian Malcolm and Marlon Devonish have also been in encouraging form.


I am really hoping to dip below 10 seconds and 20 seconds in both events
Darren Campbell

Campbell said: "Everyone is running very well and I have to be aware that I might not make the team for Edmonton.

"I cannot rest on my laurels, but the competition is good for the sport and that has helped bring it on so much over the last couple of years."

Campbell is currently at a training and recovery camp in Paris with the rest of Linford Christie's Nuff Respect athletes.

While he will miss Friday evening's Golden League Grand Prix in Paris, he hopes to be fit for Monday's meeting in Nice.

"I am looking for a win - and no hiccups," he said.

In one of sport's cruel twists of irony, Campbell, a notoriously slow starter to the season, had one of his best starts to a campaign this year.


My aim has always been to be one of the best sprinters in the world
Darren Campbell

He clocked 10.16 in the 100 metres and 20.41 in the 200m before injury struck.

But the Cardiff-based athlete still has his sights on his pre-season goals.

He said: "I am really hoping for a big year and was looking to dip below 10 seconds and 20 seconds in both events.

"I still think I can achieve that."

Campbell's greatest moment so far came at last year's Olympic games in Sydney, where he ran a storming 200 metres to claim the silver medal.

Despite his success over the longer sprint, he refused to narrow his options this season.

"I never try to focus on the one distance as my aim has always been to be one of the best sprinters in the world and to do that you have to run both," he said.


Related to this story:
Stars to shine in Paris (06 Jul 01 | Athletics)
Chambers trails behind Greene (04 Jul 01 | Athletics)
Jackson rules in Rome (29 Jun 01 | Athletics)

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