PLYMOUTH’S David King says he is ‘thrilled’ to have been selected to compete at his third World Indoor Championships.
Sprint hurdler King has been named in the Great Britain’s team for next month’s major event in Glasgow after finishing second in the 60m hurdles at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.
Olympian King clocked a season’s best time of 7.65 seconds to finish just behind Tade Ojora, who just edged the title in 7.62 seconds.
Both have been named in an initial 20-strong GB team for Glasgow, having already achieved the qualification standard.
King said: “Thrilled to make my third world indoor team. Belgrade two years ago gave me some of my fondest memories in this sport – running a PB in the semi-final, to then making my first-ever championship final through a drawing of bibs. Craziest experience of my career.
“Let’s hope that Glasgow is equally successful, but maybe a little less eventful.”
After the GB squad was named on Monday, head coach Paula Dunn said: “We are pleased to be announcing such a strong team for World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24, and I am looking forward to seeing how the team perform on the world stage.
“We had a thrilling national championships where athletes secured their places for the team in Scotland, and it was fantastic to see a number of athletes stepping up when it counted.
“This is a really exciting squad that includes global medallists as well as athletes who will be hoping to make an impact on the world stage for the first time.”
The World Indoor Championships will take place between March 1 and March 3.
King’s City of Plymouth team-mate Henry Curtis came up against him in the heats of the 60m hurdles on Saturday in Birmingham. Curtis was competing at his first senior championships and he clocked 8.66 seconds, having earlier this season run a PB of 8.39 seconds.
Tavistock AC’s Josh Tyler finished seventh in the men’s shot in Birmingham with an indoor PB of 15.40-metres. Cornwall’s Patrick Swan took the silver medal in that event with a PB of 18.33m.
Young City of Plymouth athlete Ethan Glyde also came seventh in the men’s high jump, despite being well down on his PB.
And in a strong women’s 3,000m City of Plymouth international Poppy Tank came eighth in a race won by Laura Muir.
Meanwhile, at the UK Winter Throws Championships in Loughborough, City of Plymouth teenager Nubia Evans-Shields finished fifth overall and second U20 athlete with a throw of 41.46m.