SELECTION for the World Championships and competing against the best athletes on the planet is the pinnacle of Dale Garland’s career. The 26-year-old Guernsey-man was still coming down off cloud nine yesterday after the Great Britain selectors officially announced his place in the 400m hurdles in Osaka next month – just days after his national success in Manchester.

‘This is the biggest competition you can be in – there is nothing bigger,’ he said.

‘This is the same standard as the Olympics – it’s not quite as glamorous because it’s a single sport rather than multi-sport event.’

‘I’m hoping to use it as a launching pad for the Olympics next year,’ said Garland.

He travels out on 12 August to a ‘holding camp’ in Macau to acclimatise and prepare for the biggest challenge of his career in front of worldwide TV audiences of millions.

‘The time issue is the biggest thing and we have to be there a while to get used to the time change,’ he said.

‘It’s a great opportunity to stay in Macau where they are staying before the Olympics [next year in Beijing] and is perfect preparation.’

He will then fly with the team to Osaka three days before the start of the World Championships. He is due to run in the 400m hurdles heats on the first day of competition of 25 August – 8pm Japan time.

‘In my mind I have specific times I think I can run,’ he said.

His realistic aim will be to make the semi-finals by running a substantial PB.

‘It’s about going out there and mixing it with the best of the world and getting in the top 18 in the world.’

He believes he will be in tip-top condition and the best of his life.

‘I will be fit and raring to go and if I don’t get a PB I will be disappointed.’

Garland is hoping also to cement his place in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4 x 400m relay squad in Osaka this weekend.

He will be competing in the 400m flat at Crystal Palace in the televised London Grand Prix on Friday night.

‘I would like to run sub 46.2secs – I think that will be enough to get me in the relay squad,’ he said.

Garland proudly wore his Guernsey NatWest Island Games Rhodes kit in the nationals – but he will be sporting the Great Britain vest in Japan.

‘I hope to show what Guernsey can do with an island of 60,000 people and that we still have top class sportsmen,’ he said.

He accepts that he has been a late developer compared to many top athletes and he needs to keep proving to national selectors he is worth lottery funding.

‘I need to keep showing them at 26 I’m still improving and going forward and developing,’ said Garland.

He is hoping his selection can prove a good advert to what is achievable to other island youngsters.

‘Guernsey athletics is getting bigger and bigger – the whole outlook is a lot more professional at the top level and we have a huge base of youngsters coming through.’

Garland’s Bath University pal Craig Pickering, who ran a 100m all-comers record in Guernsey earlier this year, has been selected for the 100m and 4x100m relay team.

‘I think he has a chance of making the final which would be a massive achievement and he has to be looking to get a medal in the relay,’ said Garland.