DANNY Talbot steps into the unknown when he tackles the individual 400m for the first time in his career at the Birmingham Indoor Games tomorrow, writes Kevin Fahey.

To date the Trowbridge Tornado has forged his reputation as a top class 200m sprinter and 4x100m relay specialist and the 23-year-old has no intention of making the trial switch to the quarter mile a permanent one – yet.

But coach Dan Cossins has always believed that Talbot is capable of running very fast at the distance and persuaded him that the indoor season is the best place to give it a try, especially as the 200m is not a major championship event on the indoor circuit.

“I am pretty optimistic about the weekend but also a little bit cautious as well,” said Cossins.

“From seeing him in training I think Danny is very capable of running very fast but you never quite know until it happens.

“Running the 400m is not an easy event. If you go of too fast then it can quickly fall apart and indoors if you go of too slow you just cannot get by on the second lap.

“It is tough but I am quietly confident that Danny will do something really good, if not this weekend then definitely before the end of the season.”

Talbot opened his season with a 6.71secs for 60m in Dusseldorf last week which left him disappointed as he had hoped to perform better.

“I thought that was okay and after some very hard training sessions he may need a few races,” added Cossins.

Talbot’s only experience of the 400m was a 48.2secs relay leg at the Florida Relays in April last year. He’ll certainly be hoping for something quicker his weekend.