Olympic heights in range for plucky Ive

JOE Ive believes he is in the right form to snatch a place at the Olympic Games.

The pole vaulter, who lives in Dorking, had hoped to attain the B standard at the Surrey Championships a few weeks ago.

But a back injury ended his hopes.

And now the Shaftesbury Barnet member is hoping to fly to 5.60 metres at the Olympic trials later this month.

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The 25-year-old leapt 5.20m both at Kingston and then the Loughborough International.

And while others take on every step of a competition, Ive just goes for an opening height and then straight for the 5.60m as he chases a place behind Steve Lewis, who already has the A standard, to be selected for the Olympics.

"I'm definitely in shape to get a B standard," said Ive, whose personal best is 5.40m.

"I just need to get a few more competitions in and I'll be up there.

"While the other boys are chasing smaller heights I just go up to the higher heights," he explained of his strategy.

"All I need is that one good go at it and I'll pull it out of the bag."

He is ranked eighth in the UK, but believes several of those with better heights have achieved them as "one-offs".

"Max Eaves and Luke Cutts are close to that height," he said of the pair who have 5.45m and 5.60 indoors. "But the others aren't really close to that height."

Ive knows if he is to guarantee a place at the Olympics, he would have to reach the A standard but has been told that, with one person having attained that, someone with a B standard "would be considered".

Ive had hoped to reach the standard at Kingston on his birthday, but landed badly and hurt his back. Although he felt a twinge when speaking to the Advertiser, he hoped to be fully fit for the weekend and then the Olympic trials in Birmingham.

"The stadium will be completely overfilled with athletes and supporters. There will be a ridiculous number of people there. It will be more or less a mini-Olympic event, but without any foreigners," he said of the trials, where 1,000 competitors are expected.