Farah to use Glasgow as Olympic launchpad

Mo Farah will target another record-breaking performance when he begins his Olympic season next month at the Aviva International in Glasgow. The world 5000 metres champion has been confirmed in Great Britain’s team for the Kelvin Hall event on 28 January where he will race over 1,500m.

It will mark a return to productive ground for the Londoner who has lived and trained in Oregon since joining up with his current coach, Alberto Salazar, earlier this year.

In 2009, Farah broke the British 3,000m record at the same meeting and with his reputation enhanced by his gold medal performance in Daegu in September, he is determined to keep raising the bar.

“It will be great to get a race so early on in the year,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve kicked off the season so early but this year I’m keen to keep up the competition and just take the momentum from one meet to the next.”

The 28-year-old, short-listed for BBC Sports Personality of the Year, will spearhead a host squad that will take on the USA, Russia and Germany.

Glasgow will mark the last time Team GB compete on home soil before the Olympics where Farah is likely to double again up over 5,000 and 10,000 metres. Having established himself among the elite of distance running, there can be no room allowed now for complacency, he underlined.

“It’s unreal that it’s almost 2012 but although it really is just around the corner I’m just looking to keep pushing on with what I’ve been doing,” he admitted.

“I’m training hard with my coach, we won’t be changing our routine too much and I’m trying not to keep looking ahead to the summer and to just take it step by step.

“I certainly don’t want to be wishing 2012 away and I’ll be looking to do my absolute best at every meet I compete in, starting at Glasgow.”