Parsons finished eighth in the Olympic high jump final in Beijing

High jumper Tom Parsons is hoping that home advantage will spur him on to retaining his British title in Birmingham at the weekend.

Parsons will be one of the athletes trying to secure a place at the World Championship in Berlin in August.

"It gives me the adrenalin boost that I need. Last year I didn't feel under any stress at all," Parsons told BBC WM.

"I've had a few personal bests here in the past and there's no reason why I can't jump well again."

Parsons, 25, missed most of the indoor season with a foot injury, but feels he is in good shape to make the World Championships.

"I've had a bit of a spluttery start to the year, but I've still managed to jump 2.27m. I'm not a million miles away from the 'A' standard I need for Berlin, which is 2.31m," he said.

"Hopefully I can improve on my personal best from last year, in front of all my friends and family and everyone else that will be here. If it stays dry, I think I've got every chance of doing that."

Parsons, who represents Birchfield Harriers, was one of three British jumpers to reach the final of the Olympics in Beijing in 2008.

He finished eighth, while fellow Brit Germaine Mason won a surprise silver medal, and Parsons wants to replicate that in Berlin.

"If I'm selected for the team I think I've got every chance of getting to the final. Once you get to the final, anything can happen, as Germaine showed last year," he said.

"My target is to get into the top five, but if I got a medal, that would be a dream come true."

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