Craig Pickering
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s athletics | |||
| World Championships | |||
| Bronze | 2007 Osaka | 4x100 m relay | |
Craig Pickering (born 16 October 1986, Crawley) is a British sprinter, currently based at the Marshall Milton Keynes Athletics Club; however, he also runs for Bath University and Newham and Essex Beagles. He had success as a youth athlete, winning the bronze medal in the 100m at the 2003 World Youth Championships in Athletics.
He first came into the public eye in June 2005, when he beat Darren Campbell in the 100 m at a meet in Bedford. During 2007, he has found success on the indoor circuit, winning the 60m event at the European Indoor Trials and UK Championships in Sheffield in early February, following this with a second place finish in the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham in the same event, behind his Bath team-mate Jason Gardner. His indoor form prompted The Scotsman to hint in January 2007 that Pickering could be a Gold medal prospect for the London Olympics.
More recently, he won the silver medal, again in the 60 m event, at the 2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham. He is currently regarded as a hot contender for the British number one spot, having soundly beaten Mark Lewis-Francis among others at the Glasgow Norwich Union Grand Prix held on 3rd June 2007. Despite dismal rainy conditions, Pickering equalled his personal best of 10.22 sec.
On 23rd June 2007 he achieved a new personal best of 10.15 sec to win the men's 100 m at the 2007 European Cup in Munich. He also participated to the British Relay 4x100 win, with 38.30 (World Leading Time of 2007).
Pickering soon followed this up with a new personal best (10.14) and a silver medal at the 2007 European Under 23 Championships (Debrecen, Hungary), behind compatriot Simeon Williamson.
At the 2007 UK Championships and World Trials, Pickering finished second (by 0.01) behind Marlon Devonish, and was then selected to compete at the World Championships, in the 100 m. He also was part of the 4x100m relay team which won the bronze medal.
He opened his 2008 season with a win at the Norwich Union international match in the 60 m, securing a win for Great Britain, in the international match.
Pickering now faces a struggle to make Great Britain's team for the World Indoor Championships. He was fifth behind controversial race winner Dwain Chambers at the Sheffield Indoor trials.
