Athletics: Peters aims for spot in Great Britain Olympics squad (From Gazette Series)

Olympic dreams: Yate athlete Richard Peters is London 2012 hopeful

9:43am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Yate and Sodbury Sport By Rob Iles

A MIDDLE-DISTANCE runner from Yate is hoping to gatecrash into Great Britain’s Olympic party this year.

Richard Peters’ main focus in 2012 is the Olympic trial at the end of June and he is striving to take one of the 1500m spots for the Games in London.

The 21-year-old will have to beat his personal best by over four seconds to reach the B standard qualifying time and have a chance of making the British squad, with up to three places available.

And while Peters, who is currently studying at Boston University in America, admits his best chance will be at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, the chance to compete at the Games in his home country is an extra motivating factor.

He said: “I’ve got an outside chance of making it, but I have to be in better shape and run really well.

“I haven’t run outdoors yet this season, but I’ve been running well so it’s encouraging.

“My aim really is to do it at my peak age, but it’s an Olympic year and I want to get to the trial.

“My coach in America understands that’s my aim this year and I’m working really hard.”

Peters came home for the festive period to see his family and also managed to compete in two races, winning the Clevedon Boxing Day four-mile road race and retaining his Nos Galan New Year’s Eve crown in Wales.

He returned to the USA this week, where he is on a five-year full university scholarship, studying advertising in Boston.

The former Brimsham Green School pupil, who won the English Schools’ Senior Boys title and competed at the Youth Commonwealth Games in 2008 and Youth Olympics in 2007, made the move across the Atlantic 18 months ago and feels it has helped him improve as a runner.

Last year, he broke the University and the American East Universities Championship records for the indoor mile.

“It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made,” he said.

“My whole training is different and I’ve benefited hugely.

“I motivate myself a lot more now and I do the work I should have been doing before when I was a bit lazy.

“I knew someone that went before. I didn’t have the motivation to study in England and over time I got more and more excited by the idea.

“At first I was anxious and got cold feet and it took me a year to make the decision.

“Running was the motivation, but also the different experience.”

Peters was diagnosed with an iron deficiency and low vitamin D levels last year, but that has also helped him improve.

“Since I found out it made a massive difference,” he said.

“Every runner goes through a phase where you don’t feel good, but since I started supplementing I’ve started feeling energetic and it’s made me feel better.”