OLYMPIC silver medallist Colin Jackson has backed Pitsea’s Gianni Frankis to rise from the ashes of a tough last two years and qualify for next month’s World Championships.

Pitsea-based Frankis burst onto the scene as one of GB’s brightest young 110m hurdles hopes when he booked a surprise spot at the 2009 world showdown in Berlin.

But that performance has proved itself to be something of a false dawn in the following two seasons with Frankis conspicuous by his absence from the European Championships — indoor and outdoor — and the Commonwealth Games.

The chance for redemption in the shape of a GB return comes at this week’s World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham.

And, with only Andy Turner having secured the World Champion-ship A standard, Frankis is by no means out of the running according to two time world champion Jackson.

“I have seen Gianni has run his personal best again this year, so he is getting back to his best, which bodes really well ahead of the World Championship trials in Birming-ham,” said Jackson.

“I think the thing for Gianni now is that it is important for him to make that next big step into the 13.3 second mark which can mean he can get races on the continent against the best runners there.

“Once you have done that you give yourself a really good chance to improve.

“In Tony Jarrett he has got a fantastic coach because he was one of the best hurdlers ever and I think what is important for Gianni is that he believes he can challenge the best guys in Britain.

“He’s certainly capable of making the team for the World Championships by running well at the trials.”

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