Brixton's Samson Oni insists the disappointment of missing out on last year’s World Championships will be a major source of inspiration during next week’s indoor equivalent (March 12-14), writes James Trueman.
The 28-year-old high jumper finished second at the World Trials in 2009 and subsequently missed out on a trip to Berlin with Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason, who later withdrew through injury, GB’s only selection.
Oni has since remodelled his technique and the change paid dividends at the Aviva World Indoor Trials and National Championships as he topped the podium with a clearance of 2.25m.
Jumps of 2.28m followed at the Birmingham Grand Prix and in the Czech Republic as Oni, along with Tom Parsons, were both named in the Aviva GB&NI squad for the World Indoors in Doha.
And with his new technique and a sense of unfinished business going with him, Oni is determined to make amends in Qatar.
“I think missing out on the World Championships last year is something that I regard as one of my failures and with any failures you get spurred on that much more,” said Oni.
“I spent the whole of last year being really uncomfortable with the technique I had and we had to go back to the drawing board.
“But now I’m in a place that I feel very comfortable with my technique and I can move on and build on what I already have, as opposed to having to start from the beginning.
“I think my performances this season are already showing, and my aim for the rest of the season is to continue building on the performances and even increasing my personal best as well.”
Oni will be expected to lead the British charge in the high jump with 2008 Olympian Parsons still recovering from knee surgery.
And with the experience of the 2008 World Indoors where he finished 12th and last year’s European Indoors Oni is determined to make a bigger impression this time around.
“Success for me would be to reach the final, but knowing me because I’m always wanting more, I’m sure that if I did reach the final, then I wouldn’t be happy with not contending for one of the top places as well,” he added.
“I’m looking forward to competing against everyone and seeing how individuals do and if they match up to what they’ve been doing throughout the season.
“But if I go there and continue what I’ve been doing then I think I can put myself in contention for a good place.
“This season I opened up with a slightly different mindset, I’m a lot more competitive this season and competing and reacting on what everyone else is doing, so I think the championship is going to interesting in that regard.”
PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR - Aviva has been proud to have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as they prepare for all major events and championships since 1999. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information
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