WORLD recognition has sharpened York athlete Richard Buck’s gaze upon this summer’s European Championships.

Buck was confirmed in the Great Britain squad to compete in the 400 metres individual event in the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held in Doha, in Qatar, from March 12 to 14.

But while thrilled to get the call-up, the longer term aim for the City of York Athletics Club one-lap specialist was to ensure he made the GB ranks for the outdoor European Athletics Championships, which will be staged at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium from July 27 to August 8.

The 23-year-old said it was making an impact in Barcelona that was the main driving ambition for this season.

“Yes, I am delighted to have been named in the team for the worlds in Doha next month, and, yes I want to at least get into the final, but all this season has been geared to getting to the European Championships in Barcelona. My main aim is to run well there if selected.”

Buck’s appearance in the pinnacle of the world indoor calendar in Doha next month was guaranteed once he cracked the 47 seconds qualification time.

He ran 46.52 seconds while finishing third in the Aviva Grand Prix meeting in Birmingham.

That followed on a week after he captured his third UK indoors 400 metres crown in Sheffield, a triumph he achieved despite being spiked on his way to victory.

The onset of the indoor season also coincided with Buck switching coaches so to have made steady progress over the past ten weeks, culminating in his selection for the GB squad for Doha, was a significant boost, he maintained.

And now that he had the call-up in the 400m alongside Dale Garland, he was determined to improve on his debut outing in the world indoor championships of two years ago when he reached the semi-finals in Valencia.

“The last two races have shown I am in good shape,” said Buck.

“The race did not go to plan in Birmingham, but the time of 46.5 showed I am in good condition, with still three weeks to go.”

Buck will not feel over-awed in Doha as he was two years ago in his first appearance in the world indoor championships, where he exited in the semi-finals. “Now I want to make the final though the current world indoor times are very good this year.”

Between now and setting off for Doha, Buck plans three sharp-focused weeks of conditioning to put him at his maximum.

“After competing for the last couple of weekends it will be back to normal training next week, followed by a week of 400m specialist work,” said Buck.

He added: “Then in the final week I will probably go to the indoor track in Sheffield to re-acquaint myself with the demands of running indoors.”