As he gears up for his tilt at this week’s BUCS Gatorade Nationals, Frodsham middle distance runner Steve Mitchell is determined to make his swansong a memorable one.

It will be the Mitchell’s fourth appearance at the BUCS Gatorade Nationals BUCS, his best result the 3000m silver he claimed in 2012.

But ahead of this year’s competition, which kickstarts in Sheffield on February 21, the former Grange School pupil believes he can finally go one better and claim gold.

And, after a winter that saw the 25-year-old claiming several personal bests in training, Mitchell thinks the time is finally right to push himself to the next level.

“I think it’s my best chance I have the extra experience and have been running really well recently so I feel like I can do it,” the Cardiff Metropolitan student said.

“I’ll be finishing at university so this will be my final BUCS and I want to make sure I go out with a bang.

“I have done BUCS before and won silver so this time I want to go one better and get that gold medal.”

“It was more difficult in previous years but since coming to Cardiff I’ve found that the different approach has really suited me and taken me to that next level.

“When I was younger I was really happy to just make the semis but the experience that the games have given me has made me a better athlete and means that now I’ll be really disappointed if I don’t at least get into the medal places.”

While the 1500m has been Mitchell’s forte over the course of his athletics career he is toying with the idea of competing in the steeplechase.

However, despite being unsure which event he will be competing in at the BUCS Gatorade Nationals, Mitchell believes that his training makes him ready for anything.

“I’m still not sure what event I will be competing in but I hope to make that decision soon and whichever one it is I’m in good shape,” he added.

“I’m hoping for a BUCS victory and to then kick on to the outdoor championships.”

Gatorade is the exclusive nutrition and hydration partner to British Universities & Colleges Sports and headline 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