Jack Green had a successful debut at the Olympic Stadium

by Alex Hoad

Jack Green has set his sights on double medal glory at the London 2012 Olympics after landing his first two golds at the Olympic Stadium.

Green was in good form in his first competition of the season – the British University and College Sports Championships, which formed the London Prepares Olympic Stadium Test Event last weekend.

Green, from Maidstone, stormed to victory in the guest 400m hurdles race in cold and damp conditions on Saturday night, but followed it up with an even more impressive race in the 400m on Sunday morning.

In his first flat 400m in two years, the 20-year-old smashed his personal best by 1.7seconds with a performance which he hopes will earn him a place in Great Britain’s Olympic 4x400m relay team this summer.

The European under-23 champion over hurdles recorded a new PB of 46.05 to push 400m specialist Conrad Williams into second (46.78) with David Riley in third (47.05).

Green said: "It was a decent race. I want to be in the 400m relay squad and I beat Conrad, who is a good 400m runner, and beat him well.

"I had to do it really, I wanted to do enough to show that I am worthy of a place in the 4x400m relay team without the selectors really having to justify my inclusion, and I think I have done that.

"I want to try to help the team compete for a medal. It would be nice to be able to do it. I am definitely capable of it."

He explained: "It suits me because I like chasing people down. A couple of years ago I improved from fifth to third and ran a 45.7secs split in a relay.

"Whether I am chasing someone or being chased, the hunter or the hunted, it brings the best out of me."

The previous evening the former Brockhill pupil won the 400m hurdles in 50.0secs, well outside his own record for the BUCS Championships of 49.55.

Green said: "It was freezing and damp, and in those conditions you have to be extra careful not to pick up an injury.

"I have still got a lot to work on, in terms of getting my stride pattern right, but despite the conditions it was my fastest season opener to date. It shows I am in good shape and I am not at peak fitness yet. It will hopefully improve from here."

The run was only half a second outside the Olympic A qualifying time, which would all-but secure Green one of three spots on the GB team for the 400m hurdles this summer.

He said: "I am not going to go chasing times because when you do that you tend to do poorly. I will go all out to win and if I can do that the times will take care of themselves."

Green played down the magic of competing in the Olympic Stadium, although he predicted the venue could see a host of records smashed this summer.

He said: "It’s not what people want to hear, but it’s just another stadium to me. It makes no difference to me, it’s all about the race.

"But the Stadium itself was brilliant, I was lucky that my first race was Saturday night and there were 40,000 people there. Even though it was only half-capacity the atmosphere was brilliant."