Gilford hoping to dash indoor record

One of the highlights of last year's athletics indoor season was Darren Gilford's series of successive new national records in the 60 metres dash. By the time the season had come to a close, the Pembroke athlete had set the new mark at 6.76 seconds.

With the start of a new indoors campaign, the elite athlete is looking to continue in a similar style. This time round, however, the target isn't simply that of lowering the national record even further.

"Last year my aim was to do a personal best in the 60m and I did it three times during one competition," he said.

"This year, I am going for the qualifying standard of the European Indoor Championships. It is hard but I know I can do it. Time will tell.

"Every year I set a target. I want to improve my standard and that of Maltese athletics.

"It is tough and I need the support of the people around me to reach my goals but I know I can do it, so why not try."

To do that, he will have to record a time of 6.7 seconds, not as easy as it may seem considering that Malta currently lacks a 200m track that is the standard for indoor events.

To partially overcome this barrier, today Gilford will be competing in the Birmingham Games. His presence in these games was rather predictable given that it was there that he registered his three record-breaking times last year.

Apart from the happy memories, there are other more significant reasons that justify his trip.

"The level is good and it is well organised," he says, aware of the fact that the one who managed to beat him last year, Olympic gold medal winner Mark Lewis Francis, has long confirmed his presence while Olympic bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton is another big name who in Birmingham.

Running against athletes of such calibre is the only way for Gilford to improve.

"Competing abroad with foreign athletes stimulates me more. In Malta it's a different atmosphere. My only way to improve is to go abroad and race with different sprinters," he said

Past results add credibility to his statement. Even so, there is a lot of sacrifice involved.

"I'm confident but in sports nothing is certain. Although I'm doing my best, anything can happen. At the moment, I'm also looking for a sponsor," Gilford remarked.

"It's not easy when you consider that I have to cope with my work and personal life."