BLACKBURN’S Holly Bleasdale might be the face of a new Subway advert – but she’s adamant she’s not bitten off more than she can chew in targeting London 2012 silverware this summer.

The 20-year-old has made a solid if unspectacular start to her outdoor season after a remarkable campaign under the roof saw her achieve a personal best of 4.87m – third on the all-time list – and secure world indoor bronze.

Last season Bleasdale broke the British record for fun en route to European Under-23 gold but this campaign has began slowly with best efforts of 4.35m and 4.43m good enough for two second-place finishes at the BUCS Championships in the Olympic Park and the CityGames in Manchester.

And while Bleasdale admits she’s still getting used to the increased spotlight following her superb 2011 season, she’s convinced she can time her run to London 2012 just right.

“I think where I am now is the perfect position but it’s hard for me to get used to it because for the past few years every time I came out and jumped I was breaking PB’s,” she said.

“Now I’m not doing that and it’s a bit of a shock but I need to get used to it.

“training hard at the minute is what’s going to make me peak for the Olympics which is what I need to be doing.

“For me the Olympics are what I want to peak for and I trust my coach 100 per cent. If he says you’re going to taper here then I’ll do that because he’s done it before in the past and I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for the Olympics.

“I want to jump 4.90m at the Olympics so if I jump 4.90m at the Olympic Stadium that would be a really good height and it would probably secure me a medal.

“A couple of weeks back I wasn’t feeling very confident because every day I got out of bed my legs were hurting and it was a struggle getting up the stairs but I’m getting fitter now and training’s starting to get more speed work and less endurance.

“After today I’m feeling better and more confident and I’ve got the buzz – the feeling where I just want to compete more – which is really exciting.”

Bleasdale’s place at the London 2012 Olympics hasn’t been rubber-stamped just yet and while she’s the leading British lady, she will still have to defeat the likes of ex-British champion Kate Dennison and youngster Katie Byres to earn her spot at the Aviva 2012 Trials at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on 22-24 June.

The trials will be the biggest British qualification events of any Olympic sports and the most competitive since the 1992 Barcelona Olympic trials, as over 750 of Britain’s best athletes - including Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Phillips Idowu and Dai Greene – go head-to-head in a battle for selection.

Athletes can guarantee nomination for selection by finishing in the top two positions in their event – as long as they also hold a current ‘A’ standard, with the Team GB squad being announced by the British Olympic Association on 3rd July 2012.

And UKA head coach Charles van Commenee, who is targeting eight medals from London 2012, is relishing the strength in depth ahead of the trials at the Alexander Stadium.

“I am looking forward to the Aviva 2012 Trials,” said van Commenee. “There is a depth in the sport that we have not seen for 20 years and we have a number of events where five or six athletes are competing for three places.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out the maths and athletes will need to be at the very top of their game at the Olympic Trials if they want to make the team for London 2012.”

Back the team and watch over 750 British best athletes at the Aviva 2012 Trials in Birmingham from 22-24 June. For tickets visit www.uka.org.uk/aviva-series or call 08000 55 60 56. #backtheteam