ALISON Leonard is keen to enjoy the ‘experience’ of next month’s European Indoor Championships in Prague, as long as she can secure the qualification time to compete.

The 24-year-old just missed the time as she took silver in the Sainsbury’s British Indoor Championship in Sheffield at the weekend, but is now turning her focus to the Czech Republic and the European Indoors on March 6-8.

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Blackburn’s Leonard posted an indoor personal best time of 4:13.57 minutes to claim 1500m silver at the English Institute of Sport at the weekend, finishing just half a second behind new British champion Laura Muir.

Selection for the European Indoors should be a formality for Leonard, and she wants to banish the demons from last year’s outdoor European Championships, when a collision with with Bulgarian Vania Stambolova and Poland’s Joanna Jozwik forced her out at the semi-final stage.

“The European Championships last year were a bit of a disaster but a great experience,” she said.

“Every time you go away with the team to a big championship it’s amazing so that’s something to look forward to.”

The weekend was only Leonard’s second outing of the season, and she was grateful for the chance to blow away the winter cobwebs and earn herself a domestic medal in the Steel City.

“I can’t be unhappy with that [time],” she said.

“It was a good race and one that at this stage is really beneficial for my progress.”

Leonard is now looking to kick on in her indoor season, and is confident of hitting the automatic qualification time for Prague.

“I feel in really good shape right now so I’ve got that in my sights and I think that if I keep running well I can get it,” she said.

“My times are getting quicker now that’s giving me some confidence so hopefully I can push on from here.”

Beyond Prague Leonard has the outdoor World Championships in Beijing to aim for.

She knows qualification and selection for the team that will compete at the Bird’s Nest stadium will be a tall order, but is determined to give it her best shot.

“It’s difficult to get on the team for the worlds but after the summer I had last year that’s got to be my goal,” she added.