KYLE LANGFORD is aiming to spring a major surpruse by winning London 2017 800metres title – and follow Anthony Joshua as the second youngster from the same housing estate to be crowned champion of the world.
Langford produced a barnstorming run down the final straight on Sunday night to book a place in the World Championships final.
And now he has the chance to emulate his old neighbour Joshua by going for global glory on Tuesday night.
Heavyweight world champion Joshua used to live opposite Langford in Watford’s Meriden Estate – a community housing area in the north of the Hertfordshire town.
They also went to the same school for a while, and 21-year-old runner Langford now shares the same determination to reach the top that has taken Joshua all the way in boxing.
For despite him being the shock name on the starting list for the 800m final, the British hope says he is not going along for the ride and wants to go for gold.
Langford said: “I don’t know what I’m capable but I’m going to go for the win.
“If I come up short, so be it but I’m going to go for it. I’m going to buy a ticket and, if I win the raffle, I’ll be pretty happy.”
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The Langford and Joshua families are well known to each other - with the boxer's sister spending a period working at the fish and chip shop run by the athlete's dad Donald.
Langford's family were almost in tears as they watched him scorch through his semi-final on Sunday - and the Meriden Fish Bar may have to close up shop tomorrow night to allow his parents to be there for his final date.
Given the nature of his sprint to the line, anything is possible and Langford says his fitness and the backing of the crowd are making him feel confident.
He added: “My first run was my best but I learned from it massively.
"I got clipped a few times and got a big spike in my leg. But I didn’t feel fatigued.
"The crowd was amazing — that roar makes your ears go funny.”
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