Sarah Warnock has arranged an extensive training schedule to prepare her for the pressure of going for a long jump medal at Glasgow 2014.
The Scottish champion was one of the first selections for the Commonwealth Games after a surprise rise up the rankings last summer, finishing ahead of both Jade Nimmo and Lisa Ferguson at the national championships.
Edinburgh-born Warnock was yesterday afforded a close look at the Ayrshire Arena in Kilmarnock which will host Scottish Athletics' holding camp ahead of the Glasgow Games. The 22-year-old has also mapped out a route to the event whichi she hopes will deliver success.
"It is going to be a big year," said Warnock. "Before [the Commonwealth Games] that I will be involved in a European Clubs event in May with Edinburgh AC. We won the British Women's League this year to qualify and it was a great achievement for a Scottish club. We're heading to Portugal for that one and then, not long afterwards, thoughts will turn towards Glasgow 2014."
Stephen Maguire, the national coach, expects that all of his leading lights will be based in Ayrshire before the Games begin next summer. However, he has intimated that he plans to use the opportunity to involve members of his team with local athletics clubs - including Kilmarnock Harriers and Ayr Seaforth - rather than locking them away behind closed doors.
"I don't think that kind of living in a bubble training camp is advantageous ahead of a major tournament and all the excitement that generates," said the Northern Irishman.
"There will be a lot of enthusiasm and passion for Team Scotland in the final few days before the Commonwealth Games next summer and you want to feed off that to an extent."
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