Euro Hazel is ready for big stage

LOUISE Hazel has revealed that she is ready to rise to the big occasion following her selection for the European Under-23 Championships. The 21-year-old heptathlete from March, sponsored by the Cambs Times, was informed of her call-up to the British squ

LOUISE Hazel has revealed that she is ready to "rise to the big occasion" following her selection for the European Under-23 Championships.

The 21-year-old heptathlete from March, sponsored by the Cambs Times, was informed of her call-up to the British squad during training last week and now she is preparing for the championships that get underway in Debrecen, Hungary, on Thursday.

Her preparations have been far from ideal but Hazel is in a positive mood. She said: "I am raring to go now and I just want to get stuck into competition.

"I have had only one heptathlon so far this season but I have no injuries and I have been training really hard.

"In fact, I am feeling the effects of the tough training sessions but now I can concentrate on getting fresh."

The effects of this training were evident when Hazel took part in the UK Athletics Throwsfest event in Birmingham last weekend. Hazel competed in the high jump, javelin and shot but was below her best. She said: "I felt good but I probably worked too hard in training and that affected my performance."

But it will be a different matter when she represents her country in Hungary next week. Hazel said: "I am not setting myself targets. I just have to get out there and see what happens. But I want to record as high a score as possible and get as close to the World Championship qualifying standard as I can."

The B Standard qualifying mark for the World Championships, to be held in Osaka next month, is 5,800 points. Hazel will have to break the 6,000 points barrier to achieve the A Standard.