• Athletics

Rutherford: I could be one of the fastest

ESPN staff
May 24, 2013
Greg Rutherford believes he would do well on the running track © Getty Images
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British Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford insists he could cause an upset amongst Great Britain's 100m runners, confirming that he is looking to compete on the athletics track in the near future.

Rutherford, who won gold at the London 2012 Games, recently expressed his disappointment at finishing third at the Diamond League in Shanghai and has now expressed his aspiration to run.

"I think I could be one of the fastest sprinters in British history if I trained exclusively for the 100m," Rutherford told BBC Sport. "I'm probably not going to get the chance to do that as ultimately I have to stay a long jumper because that's what I do.

"But I think I can run quicker than a few that are around now and possibly cause an upset here and there."

The 26-year-set a 100m personal best of 10.26secs in Gateshead in 2010 and, despite targeting the long jump at the World Championships in Moscow in August, the Milton Keynes-man has hinted that he could make the switch sooner rather than later.

"I'm looking to race relatively soon," Rutherford said. "I said that post-Games I was going to run and the problem has been that I haven't had the right set-up.

"I went to run a few weeks ago in America but I'd jumped a couple of days before and I was still sore so I wouldn't have done myself justice so I pulled out.

"I'm very keen to run because I genuinely think I can cause an upset in the 100m. As a junior I featured regularly in 100m finals. I like to think I could do well."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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