31 October 2013

Meghan Beesley (coach: Nick Dakin) spent today reading up on all things athletics at the brand-new Library of Birmingham.

With just a week to go until tickets go on general sale for the 2014 British Athletics Series, the 400m hurdler, is once again eager to compete at the British Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham.

The library, which is the largest public library in Europe, is just a stone’s throw away from the showpiece indoor athletics arena in England’s second city. Indeed, the Birchfield Harrier has fond memories of the Birmingham meet.

“I love competing at the British Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham,” she admitted. “When I was younger I used to go and watch the grand prix with my mum. I love the atmosphere there. It’s my favourite meet, I just always wish there was more at the NIA.

“At one point my 200m personal best and 400m personal best indoor and outdoor was on that track. It’s a quick track and I just love going there.

The 2013 world championship semi-finalist sees the British Athletics Indoor Series as perfect preparation for next year’s outdoor season.

“I’m going to do the same as last year and run four or five races. Hopefully do the 400m at the British Athletics Indoor Championships in Sheffield. It would be nice to get one of the two individual spots for my event at the World Indoors and if not it’s always great to be part of that relay squad.

“For me the indoor season is preparation because it isn’t my event so I have to do the 400m. It’s about getting my speed. I don’t get to do the 400m outside because I’m trying to get the qualifying standard for the 400m hurdles. So doing the 400m indoors gets the speed.”

Tickets for the British Athletics 2014 Series go on sale on the British Athletics website at 10am on 7 November 2013.