Gianni feeling confident of Worlds place (From Echo)

Gianni feeling confident of Worlds place

12:14pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

GIANNI Frankis will be a man on a mission when he takes part in the Aviva Indoor UK Trials and Championships this weekend.

The Pitsea-based sprint hurdler is desperate to secure a place in the Great Britain squad for the forthcoming World Indoor Championships.

And the 23-year-old is confident of confirming his selection when he races in Sheffield on Sunday.

“I feel like I’m fully capable of going there and qualifying for the Worlds,” said Frankis, who has run a personal best time of 7.70 seconds already this season.

“I’ve set PBs in both the 60m hurdles and the 60m flat and that’s a real confidence boost for me.

“I didn’t have that when I went in to the outdoor trials last summer.

“But I’m in the best shape possible right now and hopefully that can stand me in good stead for the trials this weekend.”

To earn selection for next month’s World Championships in Turkey, Frankis must finish in the top two in the trials.

And he also needs to set another personal best of 7.65 seconds.

However, Frankis feels that is within his reach.

“I feel like I can definitely run faster and get the time I need,” said Frankis.

“I’ve got good times in my last few races but they haven’t been perfect races so I know there’s more to come.

“But the race will be close because hurdling in this country is really starting to step up again.”

Frankis is currently ranked third in the country over 60 metre hurdles.

Andy Pozzi leads the way with 7.62 seconds with Lawrence Clarke second with 7.68 seconds.

But Frankis also expects others to challenge for a place on the podium.

“There are a few of us in contention so it should be a good race,” said Frankis.

“It’s important I do well though because I need to get my name back on the map.

“I need to try and get back at the fore-front of hurdling again and earning selection for the World Championships would help that happen.

“It would also give me a huge confidence boost for the summer and trying to make the Olympics, which remains my main priority.”

>The trials will be screened live on Channel Four on Sunday between 2pm and 4pm