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Search forGunn has sights on final push for Olympics
Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 08:00
The 23-year-old Derby AC steeplechaser still believes he can run the Olympic-A standard time needed to qualify for the 3000m event and is also targeting a top-two finish at the all-important Beijing Trials on July 12-13.
He admits he was “gutted” not to get the time at the college finals but believes he can still shave seven seconds off his personal best to make the Olympic time of 8mins 24.60secs.
“I really wanted to get the time before I caught the flight back but it wasn't to be,” said Gunn, who has been on a two-year scholarship in Florida.
“But I'm not panicking. I know if I get the right race, I can get the time. I might even have to wait until the trials themselves to find the standard I need.
“But, so far, I've not had the right race.
“I've been leading for about 75 per cent of my races which is not what you want.”
He added: “I'm taking a break now, I'm trying to play it smart. The last time I came back from America it took me about two weeks to fully recover and I've learned from that.
“My coach told me to take 20 days off racing to recharge my batteries so that's exactly what I'm doing. The transatlantic trip can really take it out of you.
“I love coming home. It feels like Christmas when I'm in Derby because that's the time of year when I usually fly back. It's a bit strange not seeing the decorations up.
“I've still got all my family back here although most of my friends moved on to university so I spend a lot of time in Birmingham as well.”
Gunn set a new personal best with his Olympic B standard time of 8mins 31.17secs in May.
It was his first PB in three years after some unfortunately timed injury problems.
He had hoped the collegiate finals would provide the standard needed for the Olympic time but was left frustrated and ended up finishing third.
“Basically, I was out there on my own setting the pace from the start which is exactly what I didn't want. Nobody wants to lead from the gun,” he said.
“At one stage, I saw on the jumbo screen that they were queued up behind me but I didn't panic.
“One guy made a move with two-and-a-half laps left to go and I could have jumped for joy. I just dropped in behind him and thought 'this is me now'.
“Shortly after that, the guy who won dropped the hammer. It was the same guy who won the national indoors at 3000m and he did it the same way.
“With about 600m left, he went. I didn't panic but I knew I was in trouble. In the end, the other guy passed me as well.
“I was pretty upset but I just concentrated on getting third for the team. I couldn't have given it any more, I collapsed on the line.
“I was caught in two minds between winning the race and running fast. If I'd just concentrated on winning the race, I probably could have but it would have been with a slower time – like 8.40 to 8.45.
“But credit where credit's due, I'm not sure I would have beaten the guy who won anyway.
“I think I may have underestimated him. I thought the race would have been more competitive, would have been faster but there was only three guys who were up to standard.”
Gunn is now contemplating trips to Europe at the start of July to find the standard of race he needs to make the Olympics.
The last Derby AC runner to make the summer games was Phil Harries at Seoul in 1988.
Gunn has an added incentive for reaching Beijing with girlfriend Hannah England, the UK's number one 1500m runner, already on course for a place.
“She's got one foot on the plane,” added Gunn.
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