European target for sprinter after taste of the big time

Sprinter Amy Hunt said the European Youth Championships was her next big target as she picked up tips at an athletes workshop.

The Newark 15-year-old was one of 50 athletes invited to Nottingham Racecourse for the event led by world champion short-track speed skater Elise Christie and Olympic champion canoeist Etienne Stott.

It was part of an event run by Nottingham Building Society, which has teamed up with the charity SportsAid to support athletes with their careers.

Hunt, who joined the 2018 Futures Sprint Relay 4x100metres programme in March, also received £750 funding.

She said it was brilliant to gain advice from the sports stars and wants to use the lessons to help her in the future.

"The mentors were so inspirational with the way they have both kept level-headed and down-to-earth," said the Charnwood Athletics Club runner.

"In 2012, Etienne had to wait right through the competition to win (Olympic) gold and Elise had to deal with the world’s media basically telling her she was a failure.

"It is incredible how they both managed to cope with everything and keep a normal life away from sport.

"We did some media training — learned some dos and don’ts about how to stay relaxed and to help the media want to back you and want to believe in you."

One of Hunt’s biggest achievements was a victory at the Great North City Games, Newcastle, where she was interviewed by Gabby Logan for BBC television.

Six months have passed since the sprinter took top honours in her category, but the achievement is still sinking in for the teenager, of whom big things are expecting.

However, with the European Youth Championships in July, it is the future that Hunt is focusing on for the next few months.

"Winning in Newcastle last year was a such a surprise," she said.

"I was not expecting it, but it was a really good experience.

"The crowds and the noise were amazing.

"I had an interview with Gabby Logan afterwards, which was just wow. It made me feel like a professional for the day.

"I have got the European Youth Championships coming up in Hungary. That is the main aim for me, but the Loughborough International comes up at the end of May and I am targeting doing well there.

"I should be running for the British juniors on the relay team, which would be exciting."

Hunt was in competitive action at the Loughborough Students BUCS Trials and Open at the weekend.

She produced the fifth-quickest time over 100m by a British woman this year, winning her heat in 11.69secs.

The time, just 0.04secs off her personal best, helped Hunt finish 0.16secs clear of her nearest rival.

Nottingham Building Society and Harrison Murray teamed up with SportsAid in 2013 to help future sports stars get their time to shine. Visit thenottingham.com to find out more.