5 June 2008

Birmingham high jumper Tom Parsons is relishing the challenge of the competition he is due to face at this summer’s Aviva National Championships, Incorporating the Team GB Selection Trials taking place between July 11-13th at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium.

Parsons who bases his training out of the Birmingham High Performance Centre is excited by the prospect of competing at his home venue against top athletes trying to secure their ticket to Beijing. In particular he faces competition from fellow jumpers Germaine Mason – Britain’s highest jumper last year, Martyn Bernard the Commonwealth silver medallist and Samson Oni the reigning indoor champion but is not fazed by the threat of his fellow countrymen.

He said, "The competition in this country is very healthy which can only be a good thing for the sport as a whole. It’s good to have an environment with everyone pushing each other on. I performed well at the World Championships last year so the competition doesn’t faze me, I think I will get to the standard required.  This year the likes of Oni and Mason are jumping well but I just have to concentrate on myself and not worry about what anyone else is doing."

The Aviva National Championships will offer the Birmingham public a great chance of seeing some outstanding athletics in the lead up to Beijing as top athletes battle it out to secure their place on the plane to Beijing. Parsons finished a respectable tenth in last year’s World Championships in Osaka and is hoping Birmingham will be the start of a successful summer campaign where he loves competing. The high jump is one of Great Britain’s strongest events and Parsons knows his place on the plane to Beijing is not guaranteed but is looking forward to the competition.

Parsons comments, "I am looking forward to the Aviva National Championships in Birmingham, it’s good for me having the trials in my backyard, the home crowd will help and I tend to jump well there. I have jumped four personal bests there so I know I can jump well and that gives me great confidence. I need to jump 2.30m to qualify for Beijing and am confident in my own ability to achieve this. There will of course be a bit of tension but I know I can jump well in the big competitions, I have belief and the home crowd will play their part too."

Parsons is very excited about Beijing and knows these opportunities don’t come round very often.

"Everything about the Olympics is huge, they are why I am competing in sport.  To get to Beijing I have got to give myself the best chance of getting the standard by jumping a lot between now and then try and get qualification as soon as possible"

Parsons is hoping to pick up tips from Olympic champion Stefan Holm whom he now shares an agent with.

"I would be foolish not to pick up tips from the best, I am planning to watch Stefan train and try and learn things from him, little things which might make all the difference to my preparation. I am relaxed and confident, training is going well and I am looking forward to a massive summer of competition hopefully ending in a high in Beijing."

The Aviva National Championships is supported by Birmingham City Council and Marketing Birmingham.

Britain’s athletes will attempt to secure their places at the Beijing Olympics at the Aviva National Championships (Incorporating the Team GB Selection Trials) which take place at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium from July 11 to 13.

To book your place visit www.ukathletics.net or call 08000 556 056