STOURBRIDGE’S Nick Cruchley insists he has fallen back in love with pole vaulting again and is eager to prove it at this week’s BUCS Gatorade Nationals.

Cruchley is rejuvenated after he re-found his love for athletics following his decision to take a prolonged break from competition midway through 2012.

The 24-year-old won gold at the BUCS Gatorade Nationals last year but opted not to do any training for the outdoor season and has only recently made his comeback.

And despite only a handful of competitions under his belt so far this year Cruchley is keen to shake off any rust and claim victory when the competition gets underway in Sheffield on Friday. “I’ve started coming back to competition now so it’s going to be all guns blazing for BUCS,” claimed the former King Edwards pupil.

“I decided to take some time out but I was still training and I thought that I might as well give it another go.

“I found a bit of love for it again and I don’t regret coming back at all.

“Training has been going well but obviously I have had a big gap from last year so it’s a case of trying to get back into the swing of things”.

While some athletes are looking at BUCS as ideal preparation for the Commonwealth Games, Cruchley said that his eyes are firmly fixed on getting a gold medal in Sheffield.

But even he can’t help but let his mind wander to Glasgow this summer as he looks to announce himself back on the big stage in style.

“My main goal is to get Commonwealth selection so I need to hit as many of the qualifying standards as I can,” he said.

“The qualifying standard is 5.60 and that’s a big jump but hopefully I can hit that height.”

Gatorade is the nutrition and hydration partner to British Universities & Colleges Sports and sponsor of the BUCS Gatorade Nationals.

BUCS and Gatorade work together to educate student athletes on the importance of sports nutrition and hydration – visit www.bucs.org.uk/gatorade