Kaylee sets her sights on a remarkable hat-trick of titles (From Southend Standard)

Kaylee sets her sights on a remarkable hat-trick of titles

7:30am Friday 6th July 2012 in Sport By Ryan Goad

MIDDLE-DISTANCE talent Kaylee Dodd admits winning a hat-trick of English Schools titles would be a dream come true.

The 16-year-old Basildon AC athlete has won 800m gold at the championships for the past two years.

And another victory in Gateshead at the weekend will see her continue her amazing run of success.

“It would be so good to get the hat-trick,” said Dodd, from Wickford. “But this year is going to be the toughest one to win yet.”

Dodd’s main rival for gold will likely be Loren Bleaken, who has twice beaten her this season and who, like the Wickford teenager has a rapid change of pace.

But Dodd is heading to the north-east in confident mood and feels ready to turn the tables on her rival.

“I have not come up against someone with a similar kick to me before,” said Dodd. “She beat me at the UK School Games and at the under-20 championships, but the School Games was close and I think I’ve improved since then.

“I’m feeling confident. Training has been going really well.

“I ran a good 1,500m last week and it’s nice to know I’m coming into form at the right time.”

And Dodd, who has a best this year of 2m 9.06s, feels championship racing suits her best.

“Yeah I definitely do,” she said. “If you are time-trialling, you have to go out hard. In championships, it’s a race and I can sit in and wait to use my kick, so it suits me.”