LISTEN: Chalmers' biggest step on road to Tokyo
CAM CHALMERS believes that Great Britain’s inaugural Olympic mixed relay team could make the final and even push for a medal in Tokyo.
And so the 400m ace will be racing to impress the selectors as both he and younger brother Alastair compete at the British Championships weekend in Manchester.
Ahead of an event that doubles as the Olympic trials, Cam told the latest Guernsey Press Sport Podcast how difficult it would be to gain individual 400m selection for Tokyo – primarily due to the tough 44.90sec. time standard.
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For Cam, whose personal best is 45.64, proving himself against other Olympic relay contenders is the major focus.
‘It’s all about just running as fast as I can and basically finishing as high up the field as I can, to put me in the best position for being one of the first names on the team sheet,’ the 2019 British silver-medallist said.
‘I’m not really running for a time this weekend – it is about beating people, and I’ve definitely been doing a good job of that this season.’
With the mixed 4x400m making its Olympic debut in Tokyo, Chalmers expects that to be a more realistic medal hope than the established men’s relay.
He said being in the strike four would be ‘fantastic’ and the mixed event was a definite opportunity ‘to make a final and really push for a medal’.
But looking at the shorter term – could Cam become a British champion?
He is realistic enough to consider sub-45 man Matt Hudson-Smith the favourite, though confident enough to back himself as ‘favourite for second place’ and a potential winner.
‘I’ll definitely be running to win and just run as fast as I can,’ he added.
‘I definitely believe, on my day, I can win the race.’
Ala has already accomplished that, last year winning the 400m hurdles crown in an outstanding 49.66.
Regarding Tokyo, the younger brother would need another big breakthrough to qualify directly, in this case 48.90. Selection via invite remains a possibility for both brothers – but the standard is only fractionally less demanding.
Yet Cam said his 21-year-old brother has ‘every reason to be confident’ for his Manchester title defence.
‘His training has been going well, and similarly, he hasn’t quite had one of those amazing days with amazing conditions to drop a fast time. But he’s been there or thereabouts.’
