Athletics: It's all come together for me this campaign; Warburton hopes for Madrid success.

Byline: MARK CURRIE 

NORTH Wales athlete Gareth Warburton has set his sights on competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games following his shock call-up to Great Britain team for this weekend's European Indoor Championships in Madrid.

And the 21-year-old Caernarfon student, selected for the British 4x400m relay squad, arrived in Spain last night in the best form of his career, having twice improved his personal best recently.

Warburton, a former Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen pupil and member of the Treborth-based Cowell Sports Academy, earned his place after winning the 400m in 47.24s at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham last month.

And he ran even faster at last weekend's BUSA indoor championships, setting a new UK universities' record of 46.96s and winning a gold to add to the bronze he won at the same event last year.

Currently a fourth-year sports and leisure management student at Cardiff's UWIC Warburton said: 'It's all come as a bit of a shock and it's not something I was expecting.

'I've represented Wales on a number of occasions in the past but to win selection for the GB team is more than I could have dreamed of. It's the first time I've joined up with the country's best athletes so I don't really know what to expect but I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to just try and enjoy the whole experience.'

Before the current indoor season Warburton's previous best time for the distance was 48.3s, giving him a British ranking in the mid-20s and mid-50s in the world, but he is determined to kick on.

'It has all seemed to come together this season,' he added. 'Perhaps it's because I'm a bit older and more experienced, which is what you need over 400m indoors.

'The 200m track is very tight and it's important to get to the bell first, because it's from there that you inevitably win the race.'

The Madrid competition signals the end of the indoor season and Warburton is hoping to transfer his current form outdoors.

'The outdoor conditions tend to suit me more because I'm pretty tall, which is a handicap indoors, and I'm aiming to build on the form I've shown over the winter,' he added. 'From 48.3s to 46.96s is a pretty substantial improvement, but I'd like to think there is more to come.

'There's plenty to aim for and I'll be looking represent Britain in the European under-23 Championships and the World Student Games this summer. Beyond that there's the Commonwealth Games in Australia next March and the Olympic Games after that.'

Warburton, whose dad Graham lives in Caernarfon, is the youngest of three and said the family would be glued to their television this weekend.

Cowell Academy coach Gethin Thomas said: 'Obviously we are all delighted, but not surprised

CAPTION(S):

Athlete Gareth Warburton