Inverness sprinter Jamie Bowie is in Florida chasing three major targets.
The 400m and 4x400m relay specialist is in the Sunshine State with the Great Britain athletics squad preparing for the inaugural IAAF world relay championships in Nassau in the Bahamas later this month.
He’ll also take the opportunity to compete in a couple of top-level individual 400m races in a bid to enhance his chances of representing Scotland in the Commonwealth Games and to gain a place in the GB team for August’s European championships in Switzerland.
Bowie already has a silver medal in his pocket this year after helping Great Britain finish second behind the US in the 4x400m relay in the world indoor championships in Poland in March. Now he is looking forward to challenging for more honours on three fronts.
He said: “It’s all pretty hectic. This is my second trip to Florida this year as I flew there almost immediately after the world indoors and I’ve only been back in Scotland for a few weeks. The last trip was a good experience although I didn’t compete as much as I planned.
“I did one individual 400m and one relay and I was quite happy with the way they went.
“This time I’m based in Clermont, which is the British team holding camp, ahead of going to the relays in the Bahamas.
“I’ll compete in an invitation meeting here next weekend and the following week I’ll run in the US super league meeting in Atlanta. The competition is sure to be of a very high standard, which is just what I need.
“Then, hopefully, I’ll be competing in the world relays in the Bahamas between May 24 and 25.
Bowie is keen to run for Scotland in the 400m in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer but knows he faces a major challenge in attaining the qualifying standard of 45.65sec. His best time is currently 46.06, making him the fourth-fastest Scot in history.
The Games standard is a mark achieved by only three Scots – David Jenkins (44.93 in 1975), Brian Whittle (45.22 in 1988) and Ian Mackie (45.58 in 2003).
The 4x400m relay standard of 3min 7.00sec has also still to be attained by the Inverness man.
Bowie added: “I always knew the individual standard was going to be tough. I’m trying to put the time out of my mind and just concentrate on running as fast as I can.
“The races I’m doing over here will give me an opportunity to do that but I’m also planning to do perhaps three or four more around Europe once I get back.
“I think the Scots guys can get the relay standard as well. They’ll be trying for it in the Loughborough international later this month when I’m away but I’ll be back for another attempt with them in Belgium at the end of this month.
“I’m also looking at the European championships as another major target to focus on for the season.”