Michael Baker
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Sport: Athletics, 400m hurdles Age: 18 Club: Medway and Maidstone Athletic Club (AC) Personal best: 51.98 seconds Key achievements:
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Sporting ambition:
He hopes to break into the senior England squad at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain squad for London 2012 and the 2016 Games.
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Michael lives in Lordswood and represents Medway and Maidstone AC. The 400m hurdles is his main event but he also competes in the 400m and 110m hurdles. He took up athletics at the age of 10 and has since won 13 individual county championship titles, including a treble in 2006 and has numerous south of England titles to his name. |
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He enjoyed a world ranking of eight at under-18 level and in 2007 was runner up in the England under-20 Championships, competing against athletes up to two years older than him.
He went on to run a personal best time of 51.98 seconds - the third fastest time ever by an under-18 British athlete - and was also chosen to captain the GB team.
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He rounded off a successful 2007 season by being named the SPAR Star Outstanding Athlete of the Year. Michael had a quiet competitive season in 2008 but made big strides in his long-term career with selection for Loughborough University and its elite training sqaud. |
His long-term aim is to break in to the senior England squad at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and then obtain a position in the Great Britain squad ready to compete at London 2012 and more importantly, in his eyes, the 2016 Games when he ought to be hitting his peak.
Michael thanks his family, his school and his group of close friends for all their support to date and hopes this will continue until 2012 and beyond.