24th May 2014

Diamond Dream

24 May 2014

Emily Diamond (coach: Dan Cossins) admits she can’t wait to make her senior Great Britain & Northern Ireland  debut at today’s IAAF World Relay Championships.

Diamond has been selected to run the third leg of the women’s 4x400m with Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold), Shana Cox (George Williams) and Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie).

The quartet will be aiming to qualify for Sunday’s final at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.

“I’m really excited. I was selected for London 2012 which was my first senior selection but I didn’t end up running so for my first senior run I’m really excited but also really nervous.

“I’m running well, I feel that if I do what I’m capable of then I should put on a good performance for the team.

“I think the World Relays are a really good idea because it gives people like me the opportunity to run in a world championship against some of the world’s best athletes.”

The 23-year-old has been drawing upon the experience of her fellow team mates, particularly Christine Ohuruogu.

“Christine is a massive inspiration and I look up to her,” revealed the Bristol & West athlete.

“I see what she’s doing and how she copes with stuff. She’s a really good person to learn from. I will definitely be enjoying it but at the time enjoyment is after when you’ve made sure you’ve got the job done.”

A recent personal best of 52.32 has given Diamond a massive confidence boost.

“I’ve changed coach and I’ve moved back to Bath to be coached by Dan (Cossins), who was my original coach before I went to university.

 “That seems to have been working well and I’ve done a lot of my sessions with 400m boys  so they have been giving me a head start chasing me down which has really helped in training and getting me on to the next level.”

The men’s 4x400m and women’s 4x100m will be in first round action too.

Men’s 4x400m: Michael Bingham, Conrad Williams, Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney

Women’s 4x100m: Asha Philip, Anyika Onuora, Jodie Williams, Desiree Henry