TROWBRIDGE sprint star Danny Talbot is aiming to show the Great Britain selectors that he’s worthy of a place at August’s World Championships in Russia by returning from the European U23 championships with a gold medal.

Talbot, 22, is in action in the heats of the 200m in Tampere, Finland, tonight and will be going all out to taste glory in tomorrow’s final.

The London 2012 Olympian, who won a bronze medal in last year’s senior European championships and was fourth in the U23 competition in 2011, is missing this weekend’s UK Championships and trials.

But the Wiltshire man feels that he has every chance of becoming a European champion this weekend.

“I can’t wait to race out there because every time you’re abroad representing Great Britain and it’s exciting,” said Talbot, who will also be competing in the 4x100m relay on Sunday.

“The competition clashes with the UK trials but that doesn’t matter because it’s the top one from the trials that gets selected for the worlds and then there are two other spaces.

“If I can do well in Finland, then I should be in with a good shout of going to Russia.

“I’m still only 22 and even though it’s not a senior competition, it’s going to feel like one because of the talent that’s going to be there.

“Some of my British rivals will be Adam Gemili and David Bolarinwa. I’ve already got a lot of races in to my legs this season and got the UK A-standard.

“I feel like I’ve got a good chance of getting a new personal best or at least coming close to one.

“The aim is to come back as a European champion and qualify for the worlds.”

Joint top of the rankings is Olympic 100m sprinter Gemili, who has run 20.30secs this season along with French dangerman Jimmy Vicaut.

Talbot is second quickest U23 (fourth overall) with the new personal best of 20.45secs he set in Geneva last month.

Bolorinwa is in fourth with 20.60secs and all three British men should progress into the semi finals tomorrow (Saturday) and then Sunday’s final.

“It is brilliant to see the British sprinters in the top four in Europe and it is a definite possibility that we can get a clean sweep if we run as well as we can,’’ said Talbot.

“We will all have to raise our game and even then it will be tough ask but it is do-able.”

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