Great Britain’s young stars are ready to push their case for the London 2012 Olympics as the World Cup series comes to Gillingham this week.
Freyja Prentice and Katy Burke outshone their more experienced counterparts Katy Livingston and Mhairi Spence at last month’s World Cup in Cairo and are looking forward to the Medway leg.
Having been injured earlier this year, Prentice exceeded expectations in Egypt and extended her record of top-10 finishes in all of her World Cup appearances.
She said: “It was always unknown whether I was going to Cairo, they didn’t know if I was ready to compete but thankfully Jan [Bartu, Pentathlon GB’s Preformance Director] gave me a chance.
“Thankfully there was no pressure on me and we just used that as preparation for this competition and to get some experience internationally this year,” she added.
Although injury disrupted Prentice’s training it did not show as she swam to a personal best in the pool, which she admits is her weakest event.
“I had a stress fracture in January so I was on crutches for three weeks which affected my running quite a lot but let me concentrate on my swimming which had an effect in Cairo,” she explained.
Prentice came into last years World Championships in Crystal Palace as a relative unknown and finished an impressive 15th on her international debut.
The Norway-born pentathlete admits that competing in front of a home crowd helps her performance, saying: “You reallt notice the crowd in the fencing and running.
“At Crystal Palace, as soon as a British person got out if the range there was just an eruption which I react well to because it gives you that extra adrenaline.”
As hosts for this World Cup Great Britain will enter 12 female athletes and Prentice admitted that there will be a lot of competition within the team.
She said: “There are easily 10 British girls who can make it into the final so I think all of us will be trying to get there.
“It is going to be the hardest World Cup because all of the big names are coming. Once I see everyone who is here, settle down and get into the semi-finals then I will have a real view of how I am going to do,” she continued.
With regards to expectations for the competition, Prentice said: “If I can get into the final then I will be happy and relaxed.
“I always aim to get to the finals; because I have only done three it is just a case of seeing how I get on,” she added but with confidence sky-high after a good start to this year another impressive performance in Kent could put her in a great position to be chosen for the Olympics.
The women’s semi finals will take place on Friday between 0930 and 1730 with the finals day on Sunday between 0900 and 1800.
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