Chingford sprinter Omololu Abiodun believes he is running as well as ever as he prepares for this week’s BUCS Gatorade Nationals in Sheffield.

The 21-year-old heads into the championships, which start tomorrow (Friday) on the back of a blistering start to the season which saw him crowned South of England 200m champion last month.

But Abiodun wasn’t done there, setting a new personal best over the same distance at last weekend’s British Indoor Championships as he crossed the finish line in his heat in 21.46 seconds.

And the University of East London student has set himself the target of running even quicker as he returns to Sheffield in a bid to bring home the gold in preparation for the outdoor season.

“I’m really, really looking forward to the BUCS Gatorade Nationals,” said Abiodun, who finished the British Indoor Championships 200m final in fourth. “It’s been a brilliant start to the season.

“One of the reasons why I did the indoor trials was so I could prepare for BUCS. I knew I was in shape but I needed to put it into practise.

“Training has been going really well. Since September I’ve been training really hard, working six days a week and testing myself in training as well which is really helping.

“I know I’m probably going to be one of the favourites at the championships but there are six people in the race so we’ll have to see what happens. I want to come home with a medal, preferably a gold one.

“I want to run between 21.2 and 20.9 indoor so it gives me a greater view of what I’m going to do outdoors. I’ve set my target really high so I know if I get close to it then I’m on track.

“My strength and conditioning coaches have been putting in the work to help me get stronger and overcome all the weaknesses I had in my hamstrings.

“I now don’t have niggles in my hamstrings which is a big help to my sprinting and I’m running bang on perfect at the moment.”

Abiodun is confident his university team can hold their own at the competition, with the sprinters targeting a top-three place in all events.

And the Woodford Green Athletics Club with Essex Ladies runner has his sights set beyond the Championships, with spots on the England Commonwealth Games team and Team GB European Championships squad up for grabs.

“I want to build on what I did two years ago,” Abiodun added. “When I started my career I was running 21.7 indoor and I have been trying to bring my times down so I can get into the Great Britain and England squads so I can compete for my country.

“I’ve set myself the target this season of giving myself a great chance of getting into the Commonwealth Games squad and qualifying for the relay team for England.

“If I don’t get in the Commonwealths then hopefully I get in the squad for the European Championships.”

Gatorade is the exclusive nutrition and hydration partner to British Universities & Colleges Sports and headline sponsor of the BUCS Gatorade Nationals.

BUCS and Gatorade work together to educate student athletes on the importance of sports nutrition and hydration - visit: www.bucs.org.uk/gatorade