NETHANEEL MITCHELL-BLAKE has become the latest world-class athlete to reveal that he will be competing at the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow, which takes place at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena in February.
Following on from 400m hurdles European champion Eilidh Doyle’s announcement last month that she will compete in Glasgow next year, Mitchell-Blake, who was part of the British quartet which won gold in the 4x100m relay at this summer’s World Championships, has added his name to the start list.
The sprinter was born in England but relocated with his family to Jamaica at the age of 13 where he spent the majority of his teenage years before attending university in America. His appearance in Glasgow will be his first competitive race indoors in the UK for a decade - his last was an under-15 age group indoor championship - and the 23 year-old admits that he cannot wait, particularly having watched the 2014 Commonwealth Games as a fan and seeing how enthusiastic the Glasgow crowd are. “I’m really excited about it,” he said.
“When I watched the Commonwealth Games in 2014, I was pleasantly surprised at how supportive the Scottish crowd were so hopefully they’ll be like that again and I can do something special for them.”
Until recently, Mitchell-Blake was a relative unknown outwith athletics circles but his relay gold at the World Championships in London catapulted him and his teammates to fame. Having been used to walking the streets entirely anonymously, things changed overnight but he admits that, for a while at least, he revelled in having a taste of fame. “Right after the championships, it was pretty crazy,” he revealed.
“I was getting recognised in quite a few places. I was thinking ‘this is like being a celebrity. I’m not used to this.’ But I enjoyed it and embraced it.
“I was able to go back to the States and get back to training but now, coming back to the UK for a few awards shows, I’ve been reminded of it. I’m trying to find a balance, - accepting what we’ve done but with the knowledge there is more to be achieved down the line. We watched the video of the race again the other day at the Sports Journalists Awards and it still gave me goose bumps.”
Having become world champion for the first time a few months ago, Michell-Blake is quick to stress that he is keen not to dwell on his success but to build on it. And with a number of major championships in the next 12 months, he could not have a better opportunity to add to his medal collection.
“Next year, I want to build on the success we had this year and I’d really like to get an individual medal on the global stage,” he said. “It’s a big year with the World Indoors, the Commonwealth Games and the Europeans. Why not try and reach the top? People in the past have done it – not that I’m comparing myself to anybody else – but I believe it can be done. I want to be the best. I don’t want to be a lane-filler - I want medals. That’s what you’re judged by and that’s what I’m capable of doing.”
>The Müller Indoor Grand Prix Glasgow takes place at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena on 25 February 2018. Tickets are available at britishathletics.org.uk/events-and-tickets/
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