Home run for Rawlinson

8 May 2002
PR 02/30

Home run for Rawlinson

Loughborough athlete Chris Rawlinson is hoping that a strong performance in front of his hometown crowd on May 18 will propel him to Commonwealth glory this year.

The 29-year-old hurdler will make the short trip to Loughborough University for the Aqua-Pura International at the same track that he trains on.

Rawlinson said “A Commonwealth medal is a genuine target for me this year. This year I just want to win medals as it has been a real disappointment to run well in the past and not do so.

“My speed over the flat is now as good as my hurdling technique so I am feeling confident. I will run the flat 400m rather than the 400m hurdles at the Aqua-Pura International, which will give me another good speed workout.”

Rawlinson first shot to fame in 2000 when he won the European Cup and broke the 28-year-old world record for the 300m hurdles. However, despite high hopes, he failed to make the final of the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Olympics.

“Remember 2000 was only my second year as a full-time athlete. I have learnt an awful lot over the past two years. There is a lot of interest in me at the moment with it being a Commonwealth year. I am in great shape and ready to break my best time of 47.18 this year.”

Rawlinson is just one of a number of Commonwealth hopefuls appearing at the Aqua-Pura International. Other stars on show include Loughborough high-jumper Ben Challenger and sprint sensation Mark Lewis-Francis.

For further information contact:

Fast Track: Office - 020 7932 1700,
Tim Stemp - 07931 764 668, Andrew Wallace - 07776 306 305

Tickets for the Aqua-Pura International at Loughborough University on Saturday 18th May can be purchased by calling the 24-hour Ticketmaster hotline on 0870 444 4440 or online at www.ukathletics.net

Note to editors

Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality
Assurance Agency place Loughborough in the top flight of UK universities, and industry highlights
Loughborough in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 30% of the University’s income is for
research. The University has been awarded three Queen’s Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; and for pioneering research in optical engineering.

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