Buck racing to be fit for trials

Richard Buck missed out on running at the Beijing Olympics due to injury

City of York athlete Richard Buck is hoping to be fit in time for this weekend's UK Championships at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

Buck, 22, has been struggling with a hamstring tear meaning he could miss the event which is also the trials for next month's World Championships.

The 400m runner told BBC Radio York: "The last few days I've managed to get up some sort of speed on it.

"It's a bit late but hopefully we'll get there and we'll compete."

He added: "I've spent the last three weeks rehabbing so it's been really frustrating."

Buck needs a time of 45.55 seconds or faster in Birmingham to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin (15-23 August).

"It's just a couple of tenths quicker than what I ran two years ago," he said. "And it's about three tenths quicker than what I ran indoors this year so it's definitely achievable.

"It's just a shame I got the hamstring tear when I did. I still think that given the time and the freedom to be able to plan out some training and races we'll be able to achieve it."

Buck won a silver medal this year as part of the Great Britain 4x400m relay team at the European Indoor Championships. But the year has so far brought him mixed fortunes.

"It's been up and down," he added. "It's been turbulent.

"It's been filled with promise both in the indoor and the start of the outdoor season so hopefully we'll be able to reach that again without too much difficulty."