Oxford City pair Hannah England and Nathan Douglas are raring to go for this weekend’s European Team Championships in Gateshead, writes Stuart Weir.
England competes for Britain in the women’s 1,500m tomorrow at 3.09, while Douglas starts his triple jump bid six minutes later.
The event is special for Douglas, 30, as it his first appearance for Britain since the 2010 European Championship as a freak accident followed by a hamstring injury kept him out of action.
“It is really good to be back,” he said. “I have been waiting for this day.
“It has been a long and a hard road and now I cannot wait to get on the runway.
“I always believed I would be back – of course you have doubts – but you just have to get on with it.
“The experience has given me a new lease of life; I just want to go out there and enjoy myself.”
Douglas has competed three times this season with a comparatively modest best jump of 16.53m, but he is happy with his progress.
“I have finished the rehab, but now I am starting a competitive rehab process, he said.
“I need to be patient and not put too much pressure on myself.
“I would describe myself as working at 80 per cent, so I am a little cautious, almost jumping with the brakes on.”
England, who is Britain’s No 1 this season with a best of 4mins 3.38secs, is relishing the team format.
“Athletics is quite a lonely and linear sport so it nice to have a weekend that is more social,” she said.
“It is fun to compete as part of a team and take note of what the other athletes are doing and to support each other.
“With any team event there is a feeling in the camp how it is going and you feed of each other.”
The event is being shown live on BBC2.
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