Dasaolu in good company (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon Harrier Dasaolu in good company

11:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport By Graham Moody, Sports Reporter

If the record books can be trusted, then James Dasaolu is well on his way to becoming only the fourth British athlete to run under 10 seconds for the 100m.

Croydon Harrier Dasaolu, 25, stormed to his first senior international medal on Saturday as he claimed silver at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg.

He clocked a personal best 6.48 seconds and was only denied gold by the width of a vest as Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut clocked the same time but was given top spot.

Only three Britain’s have run under 6.50 for the 60m and all of them, Linford Christie, Dwain Chambers and Jason Gardener, have gone on to dip under the magic 10-second mark in the 100m.

“It’s like a barrier, if you go under 6.50 in the 60m you are supposed to be able to go under 10 in the 100m,” said the 25-year-old, who has been dogged by injury since running 10.09 for the 100m in 2009.

“But I am not under any illusions and I have to continue working hard as running 6.50 is not a ticket to running sub-10.”

Prior to the Championships, Dasaolu’s best was set at the British Championships in Sheffield when he ran 6.58 to win the title. He improved that to 6.52 in the semi-final in Sweden before surprising even himself by his time in the final.

“I was at 6.58, but I had a cold at the trials, which not many people knew,” he added.

“I knew I was ready to go low 6.50, but I was really surprised to go under 6.50.

“There was maybe a bit of a mix of emotions that I didn’t win, but I had just run 6.4 and that is a world class time and I am really elated.

“This is my third senior Championships and the first I have gone to knowing I had the correct preparation and I was in really good shape.”

Dasaolu, who is based at Loughborough University and coached by Steve Fudge, will now have some time off before heading to America for a summer training camp.