GREG CACKETT has hailed the impact of Dave Emsley and Jon Cook as he looks to build on a successful year.
The Brockham sprinter recently came within a whisker of setting a new personal best at the IAU Inter-Counties Championships in Bedford, where he clocked a time of 10.27 seconds in the 100m – just three hundreths of a second outside his PB. It was a welcome return to form for Cackett after a disappointing time at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, and has given him renewed confidence for his training over the winter period.
But the 23-year-old, who is trained by Linford Christie, says Emsley and Cook, who are physiotherapists at The Bodymechanics in Walton-on-Thames, have been key in his resurgence.
The duo have been working with Cackett this year to help analyse and improve his performance, and the sprinter admits they have made a big impact.
"They looked at things with me and came at it with a logical approach. They have really got my body working at its optimum and they are absolutely excellent at what they do.
"They have suggested things that we have then applied and it has really helped me and I really appreciate what they have done."
The partnership came about after they saw Cackett at the Olympic trials last year and he says they have helped show him the benefits of looking after your body properly.
He said: "Training is brilliant but if you look after your body correctly, that can really help you in your career. Your body takes a lot of impact and stress and keeping it in check can be massive to helping fulfil my goals."
Cackett is set to return to training next month.