Commonwealth Games bound Tom Marshall has recovered from food poisoning to compete in this weekend’s British Indoor Athletics Championships.
However the 1500m runner admits he faces an uphill task to win selection for the World Indoor Championships, which will also take place in Birmingham in March, as he hasn’t yet achieved a qualifying time.
Marshall, from Rhayader, had hoped to run under 3.39.50 at the Ghent indoor meeting in Belgium last weekend, to ensure he would be eligible for selection for the Great Britain team should he take the British title in Sunday’s final.
But food poisoning meant the Cardiff AAC athlete missed out on running the British Athletics qualifying standards and believes to do so at the championships would be unlikely.
The 28-year-old, who confirmed himself fit for Saturday’s heats following a Thursday night training session, said: "It’s the last chance for the qualifying time, although it is unlikely to happen in a final of a major champs after the heats on the prior day. There will be no pace maker, and people will be looking to win, rather than make it fast."
But Marshall, who has been named in the Welsh team for the 1500m for April’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, said he is still looking forward to competing on the boards in the the Birmingham Arena.
"I love competing against the best of British, and thoroughly enjoy racing indoors," said the former Llandrindod High School pupil who has won the Welsh indoor 800m title and set a Welsh indoor record for the 1000m already this season.
"It’s a more exciting event again as it becomes even more tactical, with more bends, more hustling, and more chances of things going awry.
"I’d hope to compete for a medal there, and certainly know that I’m in shape to get close."