Last chance for Buck in GB squad bid (From Gazette & Herald)

Last chance for Buck in GB squad bid

STAR Ryedale athlete Richard Buck will make one more attempt this weekend to secure a place in the Great Britain under-20 squad for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Italy, which take place in Grosseto, from July 13-18.

The Pickering-based 400m runner put in an impressive display in the under-20 AAA trial in Bedford last Sunday, finishing second in 47:84 secs.

While his time was outside the GB squad qualifying time of 47:10, his runner-up spot secured him a place in the national side to face an Australian and international select team at Sport City, Manchester, this Saturday.

After winning his heat and semi-final, in 47:95 and 47:91 respectively, the Nestle Rowntree runner finished second to Border Harriers runner Rabba Yusif, who clocked 47:51.

Buck said: "I was a bit disappointed, as on the day I had it in me to win. But it's fairly early in the season and I'm just looking forward to the next event."

Unfortunately for Buck, conditions, which had been good for most of the meeting, deteriorated for the 400m final, with the wind getting up.

The Lady Lumley's School pupil added: "I'm not really satisfied with the time, but I'm training well and I'm just waiting for a good day. If the conditions are there, I think I can make the qualifying time. The track at Manchester is a closed circuit, so hopefully the air will be still."

At 17, Buck is among the younger athletes bidding for a place in the under-20 squad. Yet he is one of the best in his discipline, and, should he not make the qualifying time, he is still hopeful of making the 4x400m relay team, if the GB squad takes one.

The British qualifying time of 47:10 is faster than the IAAF standard of 47:70 - which is just one hundredth of a second faster than Buck's current personal best of 47:71. The British standard set by the selectors has yet to be met by any of the UK hopefuls.

Meanwhile, Buck has declined the invitation to compete at the full Olympic trials in Manchester on July 10-11, even if he doesn't make the junior world championships.

After consultation with Brad McStravick, high performance manager for UK athletics, who is overseeing his development, Buck said: "Eager as I am to compete there, I'm still only 17. The athletes at the olympic trials will have the benefit of experience and extra strength. I'm going to stick with my own age group for now."

Instead, Buck will compete in the English Schools national track and field championships on July 9-10 in Gateshead - unless he makes the world junior championships this week.

Updated: 13:02 Wednesday, June 30, 2004