Commonwealth Games: Katie Snowden confident prep issues behind her as she gears up for 1,500m action in Birmingham

BY MAX HALL

Herne Hill Harrier Katie Snowden says the problems which affected her preparations for the World Championships in the US earlier this month are behind her as she prepares for the Commonwealth Games.

The Balham-based runner, 28, had her build-up to the championships in Eugene, Oregon ruined by a dose of Covid-19, having had her plans to get in a indoor season halted by inflammation in her knee.

Snowden’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, which start today could not have been more different.

“My whole four-five week build-up leading into [the World Championships] was disrupted,”  said Snowden, who exited at the semi-final stage of the 1,500m in Oregon.

“You need to be race-fit and sharp when you get to the championships. When you race on the world stage you want to give your best and I just couldn’t.

“I can be more confident now as I’ve had a couple of weeks training. I’ll be in a better position going into Birmingham.”

With a first round in the 1,500m pencilled in for the Alexander Stadium in a week’s time [August 5] and the final two days later, Snowden was in no doubt about who the favourite will be to take gold.

“At the World Championships there were three stand-out athletes with sub-four [minute] times,” said Snowden, referring to Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, and British team-mate Laura Muir.

With Ethiopia not among the nations that compete at the Commonwealths and Kipyegon instead contesting a Diamond League meeting, Muir – who will race for Scotland in Birmingham – will be hot favourite.

“Laura Muir is definitely the favourite and she tends to hold back at the start,” said Snowden, whose PB for the distance is 4:02.77. “In Eugene it was so fast straight from the gun. I used to be an 800m runner, because I’ve come from that background I tend to run a slightly slower race and then wind up to a kick finish.

“It’s going to be really special having a home crowd and hopefully some home support. Four years ago, on the Gold Coast, I reached the [Commonwealth Games] final and finished 11th – obviously I want to improve on that.

“I’m looking at the top five or six, which is roughly where I’d be on my time. That leaves me being competitive for the medals.”

Snowden, who attended James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich, spoke of the importance of having role models to inspire the next generation of athletes. World-class long jumper Jade Johnson was someone she looked up to after joining Herne Hill Harriers at the age of 12.

Now she is competing at the highest level in athletics, as part of the British Athletics World Class Programme, Snowden is doing her bit to inspire the next cohort of youngsters at the South London club.