Paralympics-Katrina throws books out for now…

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

REDDITCH’S Katrina Hart has locked herself away in the library for the majority of 2011 – but is ready to blow the cobwebs away in style at this month’s BT Paralympic World Cup.

Katrina Hart

Hart was 21 yesterday and has been busy away from the track at the University of Bath as she comes to the end of her Sports Performance degree.

But the Birchfield Harrier will put the books down as she heads to Manchester to try and win World Cup gold having won 100m and 200m silver last year.

It will be Hart’s first outing since she stormed to 200m gold and 100m bronze at January’s IPC World Athletics Championships in New Zealand, and she can’t wait to get back to the familiar surroundings of an athletics arena.

“It has been really tough recently juggling my university work with my training as I have had loads of assignments to do and over 22,000 words to write,” she said.

“But I have finished my dissertation now and everything is winding down which is nice because I can start focusing completely on my training.

“I am really looking forward to getting out in Manchester because it will be the first time I have competed since New Zealand and I want to blow the cobwebs out.

“Although I haven’t competed since New Zealand, the worlds were great because it gave me such a confidence boost that I can run alongside the best in the world.

“So now I can concentrate fully on my training I want to build on that great January and that starts with the Paralympic World Cup.”

As well as her double medal haul from New Zealand, last season saw Hart storm to the 100m crown at October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

And while admitting she is entering the unknown in Manchester in terms of who she will be up against, she admits it will be nice to be back in front of home fans again.

“I always enjoy running in Manchester because you normally get a really good crowd down there and it always spurs me on,” she added.

“I don’t actually know who I will be up against and won’t probably find out until I turn up on the day but I don’t mind and will just be happy to be back out there again.

“With London 2012 coming around quickly the Paralympic World Cup will be a nice taster of what to expect and I can’t wait to get going.”

The BT Paralympic World Cup is taking place in Manchester from 23-28 May with elite international athletes competing in Swimming, Athletics and Wheelchair Basketball. Go to www.btparalympicworldcup.com for tickets and more information.