• London Olympics 2012

Van Commenee tips Ennis for 2012 hurdles final

ESPN staff
August 9, 2010
The hurdles is one of Jessica Ennis' strongest events © Getty Images
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UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee has backed Jessica Ennis' bid to compete in the 100 metres hurdles at the 2012 Olympics.

World and European heptathlon champion Ennis has confirmed that she is eager to bid for hurdles gold in 2012 alongside her specialist event.

Now Van Commenee has revealed that he expects the 24-year-old to achieve the "unique" feat of powering into the final of the hurdles if the schedule allows.

"The timetable hasn't come out yet so it is hard to say whether it is possible, but I can see a finalist in her in the hurdles, which would be quite unique next to the heptathlon," he said.

Elsewhere, disgraced former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin has admitted that he is keen to compete in the 100m at the 2012 Games.

The American was banned for four years in 2006 after testing positive for excessive testosterone, but he made a winning return to the track by triumphing at the Kuldliiga meet in Estonia last week.

Asked if he intended to compete at the London Olympics, he told BBC Radio Five Live: "I hope so. I think I am a championship kind of runner and competitor and I have a big heart. I always rise to the occasion in competitions."

Gatlin was adamant that the prospect of running against Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay held no fear for him, however. "I have to make sure I run good times before I can think about being in a race with [Bolt]," he said. "I have been there before and raced against those guys before so I'm not going to be nervous or scared to run against them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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