Gill will 'run with freedom' in Paris - coach

Phoebe Gill set a European Under-18s 800m record in May

Athlete Phoebe Gill must continue to run with freedom to fully demonstrate her talent at the Paris Olympics, her coach says.

The 17-year-old from St Albans won the 800m at the British trials in Manchester in 1 min 58.66 secs, beating Jemma Reekie into second place.

Both will join World and Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson in the 800m heats in the French capital on 2 August.

"When you are so good, you don't want the paralysis of expectation of yourself and others to stop you running with that freedom you saw in Manchester," coach Deborah Steer told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"When the gun goes, you're free and I think you saw that quite clearly with Phoebe's running, but the other thing that is important in Phoebe's progression is her racing brain.

"To be able to be the best 800m runner, you have to be able to think on your feet because even if you go into a race with a plan, you can't control what the other competitors are doing.

"She went into that race and didn't want to to front run but unfortunately no-one took it on, so Phoebe had to then change her plans, (but) hold herself back - which she does find quite hard - and then wind it up over the last 400 and she demonstrated that supremely. That's what makes her such a fantastic athlete."

Steer was unable to be in Manchester for Sunday's race because she was in Majorca, but watched Gill hold off Reekie over the final 200m on TV.

"I am so happy, I never thought this would actually happen. This is crazy to me, it's like I'm dreaming. I can't describe it to be honest," Gill said afterwards.

"The fact I am going [to Paris] and competing against those who I have been watching on TV for ages is crazy. Paris wasn't on my radar at all, the fact I am going now means I can go without having any expectations."

She set a new European Under-18 record of 1 min 57.86 in Belfast in May.

But trying to navigate her way through three rounds to the Olympic final on 5 August will be a different level of challenge for the Hertfordshire runner.

"I think she's got every chance of doing as well as she can, that's what we say," added Steer.

"We just take each race as it comes. She'll be going there for the heats and then see what happens."