By John Haughey BBC Sport

Hession should be a strong contender at the 2010 Europeans

Paul Hession is hoping that a couple more "baby steps" will see him lining up alongside Usain Bolt in next year's World 200 metres final in Berlin.

The Jamaican's world record exploits at this year's Olympics captivated the world but Hession came away from Beijing with an enchanced reputation.

The Athenry man's progress was perhaps best summed up by his own disappointment at just missing out on a place in the final.

"I was gutted being so close to making the final but at the same time, 2008 was another season of steady progress," Hession told BBC Sport Interactive.

The Emerald Isle's track and field athlete of the year was the star turn at the launch of the 2009 Irish Indoor Championships in Belfast earlier this week.

Hession couldn't do enough for the event organisers as he posed for pictures with the various dignitaries and sponsors as well as some local schoolchildren who got a rare opportunity to meet a genuinely world-class athlete.

The 25-year-old has fond memories of the 2007 Odyssey Arena event when his Irish 60m record of 6.63 was an indicator of what was to follow later that year, when he improved his national 200m record to 20.30.

"For me an indoor season is a stepping-stone towards the summer.

"Each year, you weigh up what you need for the next year, where your gaps are, where your weaknesses are.

"A couple of years ago in 2006, I knew that I needed to do an indoor season in 2007 to get quicker over 60 metres.

I'm training hard at the moment with no problems and seeing improvements every week Paul Hession

"It's the case again this year that I'm focusing on the 60 as a stepping-stone to the summer. Hopefully, I'll get my 100m flat speed down a bit more."

Hession's day in Belfast was a brief interruption to a heavy winter programme which coach Stuart Hogg is currently putting the Galway man through.

"I've been with him since April 2005 and we've a nice partnership going and everything has been going well over the last couple of years.

"I'm looking forward to next year and beyond. I'm training hard at the moment with no problems and seeing improvements every week.

"I had three and a half weeks off after the Olympics but at the moment, I'm pretty much in the heavy stuff."

Hogg's athletes in Dunfermline include Beijing 110m hurdles quarter-finalist Allan Scott, sprinter Nick Smith and 400m runner Brian Doyle while Belfast athlete Paul McKee also regularly trains with the group.

"We've got a nice mix, a really good group. We're all serious about our athletics but we have a good time as well."

Hession's winter season will culminate with the European Indoors in early March but while he could be a genuine medal contender in Turin, the big target this year in a place in the 200m final in Berlin.

More gradual improvement in 2009 would surely mean a place in the World decider although the understated Hession cautions that competition in Berlin could prove even tougher than Beijing.

"It won't be easy. People in Berlin are going to be the people who were there in Beijing.

Hession after just missing out on a place in this year's Olympic 200m final

"In some ways it will be harder because there will be an extra American in Berlin. They automatically allow back the previous world champion (Tyson Gay) which they don't do for the Olympics.

"So, you'll have four Americans and three Jamaicans.

"I was 10th in Beijing and the target has to be improve on that. If I could get top eight, that would be a real, real step forward."

Hession acknowledges that thoughts concerning the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona have already entered his head.

"I was second European (behind Christian Malcom) in 2008 and third in 2007.

"A few guys probably underperformed this year like (Francis) Obikwelu and the Norwegian guy who used to run for Gambia (Jaysuma Saidy Ndure) who ran 19.89 in 2007.

"But I think I'm the most consistent European sprinter on the circuit.

"If I can keep that consistency and really pull it out on the day, I've got a good chance of coming in the top three at the Europeans."

Regard Bolt's astonishing Olympic exploits, Hession, who was in the Bird's Nest for the 200m final, says he was as amazed as everybody else when Michael Johnson's seemingly untouchable record fell.

I've run against guys week to week in the summer who have run 20.0 and I'm beating them Paul Hession

"I would have loved to have been in that race and I could have very easily been in that final.

"Just to see it and witness it was amazing and I think he's doing great things for the sport.

"The sky's the limit with Bolt. It's him against the clock at the moment."

But while getting close to Bolt's 200m record of 19.30 not even to be contemplated, Hession does acknowledge that he believes he can get much closer to the 20-second barrier, which still remains a mark of greatness in the event.

"If I don't think I could run 20.1 then I'm not going to improve.

"I have the capabilities. I've run against guys week to week in the summer who have run 20.0 and I'm beating them.

"I think at some stage in my career I'm going to get the perfect conditions and the perfect racing and could run quick.

"And as for going sub-20 seconds, I couldn't say it's never entered my mind but I've a long way to go before I get to there.

"I'll start talking about 20.2 first before I start talking about 19s.

"But I'm not one to set limits on myself but I'm not one to go saying that I'm going to do 'this' or 'that'."

With Hession, it's always been those "Baby steps" and there seems every chance that they will continue.

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