Lewis-Francis tips Brits
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 11/01/2011 at 11:56 GMT
Mark Lewis-Francis believes British sprinting is set to enjoy a renaissance – and is tipping fellow Commonwealth gold medallist Leon Baptiste to join him in leading the rebirth.
Mark Lewis-Francis England
Image credit: Reuters
The 25-year-old and Lewis-Francis were the shining lights of 2010 with the former claiming 200m gold at the Commonwealth Games and the 4x100m relay equivalent alongside the latter.
Lewis-Francis himself also claimed 100m silver at both the European Championships in Barcelona – upstaging British number one Dwain Chambers – and the Commonwealths in India.
And with such performances in mind Lewis-Francis – who won Olympic 4x100m relay gold in 2004 – is adamant he and Baptiste have reasons for optimism at August’s World Championships in South Korea.
“Leon is a great young talent and he had a lot of drive and fire going into the Commonwealth Games to prove to everyone that he is a great athlete,” said Lewis-Francis.
“I think Leon is going to be great and I am very happy for him because he is a good guy and he is a cool guy and a great competitor.
“I think Leon is going to be great in 2011 – we have a big year with the World Championships coming up and the European Indoor Championships as well and Leon is good indoors.
“The World Championships are going to be really, really tough and it is going to be hard to get into that final so I’m expecting a competitive year.”
Baptiste was joined on the international podium in 2010 by fellow sprinter Christian Malcolm – who claimed European silver and Commonwealth bronze behind the Enfield & Haringey ace over 200m.
But add Chambers, Craig Pickering, Marlon Devonish and Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun to the mix of potential medallists in 2011 and Lewis-Francis believes Baptiste faces tougher competition than ever.
“At the moment the 100m and the 200m is red hot and I think that is going to bring the best out of every one of us sprinters and I’m looking forward to it,” added Lewis-Francis.
“Leon is talented, Marlon is a talented and you can never write off Marlon and I think this year, 2011 he’s going to be stronger than ever.
“I might even jump into the 200m with Leon and co and have a bit of a battle with the guys. I think 2011 is going to be an exciting year.”
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement