Jack Meredith of Great Britain at the IAAF Press Conference for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada (© Getty Images)
Jack Meredith intends satisfying a massive hunger which has lingered for just over a year when competing in the 110 metres Hurdles at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton next weekend.
Meredith still remembers vividly how at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, he thought the gold medal was around his neck until American rival Dale Morgan sneaked past him coming off the final hurdle to snatch it away by 0.05sec, with a time of 13.28sec.
The awful memory of being so near yet so far has awakened him almost every morning since and it has fired up in him a massive determination to make amends at the 13th gathering of the world's best junior athletes on Canadian soil this week.
"After Bressanone last year I've been hungry," said Meredith. "I've trained so hard this winter and again all season. This would be the icing on the cake, a dream come true."
"It would be like a bit of revenge for last year because I think I got hard done by getting a silver, so if I win the gold I'll feel it's all been worthwhile."
Meredith may still only be 17, but currently amongst his peers he ranks number one in the world with a British record performance of 13.36 which he achieved at the Bislett Games in Oslo at the beginning of July.
And despite his youth, the teenager displays a self confidence well in excess of his age and he believes this apart from making amends for Bressanone will steer him to victory in next Sunday's final.
Meantime bidding to become the first Briton to win the title since Colin Jackson collected the gold medal at the inaugural championships in 1986, the Family Guy and Everton football supporter, will add the final touches to his preparations before the heats get underway on Friday morning.
Meredith born in Liverpool and coached by Donald Moss, has surprisingly never sought advice from Jackson the former world record holder who is always ready to mentor up-and-coming high hurdlers.
But in his eyes the 1993 IAAF World Champion in Stuttgart has set the standard along with other British hurdlers such as Tony Jarrett and Jon Ridgeon which has seen the event continue to be one of the most popular in Great Britain.
"He's British and one of the best ever," said Meredith at the pre-championships press conference where his regional "Scouse" accent rang around the room with enthusiasm and positive statements of his expectations.
"No, I've never spoken to him personally. I've met him once but I've never had a conversation with him. In my head he's been there and done it."
The recently crowned English Schools' champion admitted: "I haven't studied him that much. I've just envied everything he's achieved in the sport
"He's the best British hurdler ever so I'd love to emulate what he's done and win what he's won."
Meredith determined to emulate the now BBC television pundit and memories of Bressanone still fresh, added: "I'm feeling quite confident but there's a few fast runners in the event so I have to make sure I have my wits about me.
"Major finals are always close. I've just got to make sure that I execute my race well and hopefully it won't be as close as it was last year."
Morgan may not be in the United States team on this occasion but Meredith has done his homework and believes although the Championships always throw up surprise performers, Pascal Marrtinet-Lagareb and Vladimir Vukicevic will be his major opponents.
Meredith said of the Frenchman and Norwegian, the latter whom he beat in Oslo: "Pascal he's done 13.37 so he's going to be on my tail chasing me and Vladimir, he's done 13.42.
"There'll be some other quick lads there and there'll be some lads who pull out fast times on the day. If I'm feeling good and I know I've trained well, I'll be on that line running quick too."
David Martin for the IAAF
