Giles aims to get the home fires burning in Brum
BIRMINGHAM middle-distance athlete Elliot Giles is looking to bounce back from his World Championships disappointment when he takes on a stellar field at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham next week.
Giles missed out on a place in the 800 metres final at the London Stadium after finishing sixth in his semi-final in a time of one minute 46.95 secs.
He said: “I am disappointed with my performance but no real excuses from me, it just wasn’t there. I felt good throughout the race but it wasn’t really there on the final straight when I kicked.”
The Handsworth athlete came out of nowhere last year to win a bronze medal in the 800m at the European Championships in Amsterdam.
This summer he has progressed well after finishing his degree at St Mary’s University in London and defending his British 800m title at the British Athletics Team Trials in Birmingham in July.
He said: “I’ve trained hard this year and set a personal best at the Müller Anniversary Games in July, so everything was looking good coming into the World Championships.
“I was hoping to make it to the final but it didn’t happen and I’ve got to learn from that experience and look ahead.”
Giles will go head-to-head with Britain’s newest middle-distance star, Kyle Langford, in Birmingham on August 20.
Langford, who is part of the same training group as Giles, clocked a personal best of one minute 45.25 secs after charging down the home straight in the world final, but just missed out on the bronze medal by four-hundredths-of-a-second.
The world silver and bronze medallists from London, Adam Kszczot and Kipyegon Bett, will also be in the field at the Alexander Stadium, along with London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos and three-time 1500m world champion Asbel Kiprop.
Giles said: “The 800m at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham is an important race for me as I want to put in a strong performance in my last big UK meet of the year, but there are some big names in the line-up and it will be a tough battle.”
The Birchfield Harrier has enjoyed competing on home soil this summer and is looking forward to racing again in front of a Birmingham crowd.
Giles said: “Having so many big races in the UK this summer has been brilliant.
“The British crowds are really special and the way they’ve supported all the home athletes has been incredible.
“The noise in the London Stadium was unreal and I’ve never experienced anything like it before, but I’m sure the Birmingham crowd will give us a great reception at the Alexander Stadium, as they always do.”
For tickets to see the world’s best athletes and Mo Farah’s last-ever UK track race at The Müller Grand Prix Birmingham go to www. britishathletics.org.uk