European indoor 60m hurdles champion sees Müller Indoor Grand Prix as an important step towards World Indoors success
Andrew Pozzi says his race at the British Indoor Championships proved he is in “really great shape” and he’s now looking for another strong performance at Sunday’s Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow for a final boost ahead of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
Despite being left in the blocks, the European indoor 60m hurdles champion clocked 7.58 to win the national indoor title in Birmingham last weekend. Having missed some of the season due to “a couple of complications and a couple of little niggles”, Pozzi now hopes to make a statement ahead of targeting a world indoor medal next weekend.
“Glasgow is going to be a very important step to get back into international competition one last time before going off to Birmingham,” says Pozzi, who is looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd at the global event having grown up “just down the road” in Stratford-upon-Avon.
“I’ve yet to run a really world-class competitive time unlike some of the guys who will be in Glasgow. But the way I ran my final at the trials showed I’m in really great shape and now it’s just a case of putting it down ahead of World Indoors,” adds the 25-year-old, who will line up alongside US champion Jarret Eaton and world 110m hurdles record-holder Aries Merritt in Scotland.
“With only a week between Glasgow and the World Indoors, it gives you great confidence to beat your rivals.”
Reflecting on his race at the British Indoor Championships, Pozzi, who beat GB World Indoors team-mate David King to the title, adds: “It was probably one of the most enjoyable races I can ever remember. I actually really enjoyed chasing and the competition.
“I really enjoyed trying to stay in the moment and stay focused on what I was doing, at the same time as having everyone else in the periphery which normally for me, being quite a good starter, is kind of rare.
“I’m happy that I’ve got the top speed there,” he continues. “For me going into Glasgow – and more importantly Birmingham – I know there’s no issue there with the form I’m in, even though on paper I haven’t run a really fast season’s best.
“To do that under pressure is even more encouraging going into a championships because you know if I’m faced with having to come from behind and really step up, I can do that and not lose focus.”
Picking up from where he left off at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade last winter, with wins in Berlin and at the British Indoor Championships this year, Pozzi has continued his impressive unbeaten run.
“I saw a tweet last year after Belgrade which said that I hadn’t lost (indoors) since 2014, so pushing four years now,” he says. “In that time, I’ve only had one major championships so hopefully we extend it beyond Birmingham and I’ll be really happy!
“At this stage it’s nice and it’s really important to stay in winning ways as much as possible, but it’s not something I’m overly conscious about, really. If it’s still there (his unbeaten record) after Birmingham, I’ll be pretty chuffed!”
» A preview to Sunday’s Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow can be found here