jumping up the rankings: Julien Allwood is looking for a medal at the UK Indoor Championships

THORNTON Heath triple-jumper Julien Allwood believes rubbing shoulders on a daily basis with London 2012 medal contender Chris Tomlinson can catapult him onto the podium at next month's senior UK Indoor Championships.

Allwood joined up with a training group – containing world indoor silver medallist Tomlinson, and World Championship fifth-place triple-jumper Yamile Aldama – last summer and believes he's already reaping the benefits.

Next month's UK Championships offer the 19-year-old the perfect chance to prove the benefits of surrounding himself with senior global medal contenders.

And despite kicking off his season by finishing sixth at last weekend's London U20s Games, Allwood plans on ruffling the feathers of his more experienced GB rivals in Sheffield next month.

"I am coached by Larry Achike now, so I am jumping consistently in training," he said, referring to the Great Britain triple jumper who finished fifth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"I was with him last summer, trying to break myself into the group and now I'm established in it which is great for me.

"Having the likes of Chris Tomlinson and Yamile Aldama in there is great.

"The squad is fantastic, a lot of those elder guys take me under their wing and talk to me and are showing me a lot of things that I never knew before.

"There is no doubt that a big personal best is coming, I'm very sure of that. It's just a matter of when.

"There is definitely a chance of a medal if I get it right at the UK Championship indoors and then onto the outdoors I want to break into that UK top 10 this year and really start to make a push at senior level.

"I am still in my first year at U23s but there is no reason why I can't challenge the seniors and upset a few."

Allwood took a break from his preparation for next month's national showdown by helping Lloyds TSB launch World Sport Day on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old – who receives £1,000 of funding a year from Lloyds TSB as part of their Local Heroes scheme – was treated to a behind-closed-doors tour of the Olympic site.

And having got up close and personal with the east London site Allwood insisted he was more determined than ever to continue his rise through the ranks both in 2012 and 2013.

"The more people I can upset the better this year and hopefully that will put me in a good position to qualify for the European U23s Championships next year," he added.

"That is my big aim next year and it was really good to actually go into the Olympic site this week because I have never actually been inside the park." Lloyds TSB National School Sport Week, the UK's biggest school sporting event, takes place from June 25-29, 2012. This year, the week will open with London 2012 World Sport Day, celebrating the world's arrival in the UK for the greatest festival of sport. Find out more and support your local school at lloydstsb.com/london2012