Holmes aims for indoor best

14 April 2012

Kelly Holmes is aiming to be the fastest indoor 1,500 metres performer in the world this year in Stockholm tonight.

Determined to win the gold medal in next month's IAAF World Indoor Championships, last year's runner-up intends to blow away the opposition in the GE Globen meeting.

The organisers have failed to attract a worldclass field, but Holmes is on a mission to prove she is in the best shape of her life.

The former army sergeant, the second quickest indoor performer this year, admits she is not 100 per cent fit but said: 'I've still got a bit of a chest infection which won't go away, but I'm looking for a fast race.

'I'm going to Stockholm to see where I really stand after a good start to the season.'

Holmes, from Kent,will challenge the leading mark of four minutes 7.9 seconds, achieved by Russia's Olesya Chumakova last week.

Having blown away the opposition in 4mins 9.15secs last month in Glasgow, no one doubts Holmes can better Chumakova's time, despite a weak field.

With Hayley Tullett also competing, it could become a British onetwo, although Belarus's Alesya Turova, a former world 3,000m steeplechase recordholder could cause the two Britons a problem.

Win or lose and whatever the time, Holmes knows she will be given a green flag when the British selectors finalise the World Indoor Championships team on February 23.

Missing out in the first wave of selections earlier this week after preferring to sharpen her speed with an 800m victory in last week's trials, the Olympic 1500m bronze-medallist is assured of a place in the Budapest side.

Meanwhile, Athens 2004 organisers have announced the runners in the Olympic torch's global relay will include Prince Albert of Monaco and Russian swimmer Alexander Popov.

The flame will be lit in Ancient Olympia on March 25.

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