Hazel eager to impress

Hazel: High hopes

Louise Hazel is 'ready to rumble' at the World Championships as she sets her sights on taking another giant step on the road to next year's Olympic Games.

The Commonwealth gold medallist took part in three events during the weekend's UK Trials and Championships to continue her preparations for Daegu, where she will compete alongside Jessica Ennis in the heptathlon later this month.

Hazel admitted there was still room for improvement following her performances in the 100m hurdles, long jump and javelin but still feels there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

The 25-year-old's display in Delhi last October effectively booked her spot on the British team for Daegu but she's refused to relax this year and has already achieved the Olympic 'A' qualifying standard with a personal best of 6166 points set in Germany last month.

Hazel said: "I thought this could be the point where some athletes would get complacent this year so that's why I set myself the challenge of getting the Olympic 'A' standard in my first heptathlon event of this year.

"The trials have been more of a training exercise and putting into practice a few changes to see how they pay off. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll be ready to rumble in Daegu.

"I've got to get a PB at the worlds - if I can put 100 points on my best then I'll be over the moon and doing a jig.

"It would give the rest of the girls something to think about and let them know I am a real player if I can push towards those top eight positions.

"They'll know that we're going to be producing even better performances on our home turf next year. When you're tired after five events under your belt that's when you need the home support and it certainly helped me in Birmingham - the people are really getting into athletics now."

Progress

Hazel is happy with the progress she's made over the past few years but certainly has eyes for more success.

She said: "If Commonwealth gold is the way I finish my career - I hope not because I'm aiming for bigger things - but I'll be more than happy. I can only go out every single day and do my best.

"The Olympics is everywhere and there's such good buzz about it which motivates you and stops you being complacent.

"I'm just going to have a massive smile on my face and go out with the right attitude and visualise how I want my competition to go."

Ennis will be undoubtedly one of the favourites for gold in Daegu but while Hazel is full of praise for the Sheffield star, she feels it's going to be a tough event.

She said: "Jessica is so composed on the track and field. She never panics, always stays very focused and she's always able to pull something out in the third and final rounds, which shows she's a real fighter.

"There's a handful of contenders. The heptathlon is not an event where you can hang the gold medal around anybody's neck.

"Tatyana Chernova has been in very good form while Natallia Dobrynska tends to be a major threat at a major championship even though she's not scored that highly yet this season."