RUNNER Charlie Grice is aiming for a good result at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Serbia.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Brighton and went to Cardinal Newman School in Hove, is part of Team GB and has his qualifying round tomorrow ahead of a potential final on Saturday.
Having already won bronze in the 1,000 metres at the Youth Olympics in 2010, silver in the 1,500 metres at the European Under 23 Championships and the British Indoor title in 2016 in the 1,500 metres event, Grice is hoping to win another medal this weekend.
Grice told The Argus: "I am really excited to be back in Team GB. Indoors has never been the main priority because it is more about the three major championships in the summer.
"The standard is quite high at the moment, especially in the middle distance, especially in the UK as the standard is so high so to be involved is really exciting ahead of a busy summer.
"We have the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and we have the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the European Championships in Munich. So it is rare that there will be three major championships in one season, a lot of people are opting not to do the world indoors.
"But for me it is a World Championship, and the sport is based off winning medals, so it is a good opportunity for me."
Grice is running in the 800-metre event, despite his preferred distance being 1,500 metres, and he believes that the experience will be good for him.
If Grice does well in the event it will boost his chances of selection for the upcoming events in the summer as well as help him claim a spot at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
He said: "It is quite different, there is a lot more focus on the speed and this time of year it is quite hard to get that speed working due it being cold.
"It is going to be a stacked field with plenty of talent, and each country sends two athletes, so most there will still be a lot of quality.
"I have not raced an 800 metre this year, and I was selected off my time last year, so I will have to be at my best going into the race.
"If I get into the final then it is more about tactics and who is the best on the day, so there is not too much pressure, just the pressure I put on myself.
"Every time you put on the GB vest, it is a special moment because it is a short career and you have to make the most of it."
The World Athletics Indoor Championships are being held in Serbia, and Grice has a lot of hope that everyone will be safe due to the proximity to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He said: "There is a bit of a buffer between what is happening and where we are.
"We won't be travelling in Team GB kit and I hope there won't be any security issues.
"I trust the governing bodies to keep everyone safe and I hope the Ukraine athletes get to compete."
As an Albion fan, Grice is happy that he is able to train at the Withdean Stadium which is the club's former ground before they moved into the Amex Stadium.
He said: "It is cool.
"I went there when I was younger for a couple of matches to be able to train there as a fan of the club is really special."
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