BRITAIN’S Olympic, world and Commonwealth 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu left the cold London winter weather yesterday to sample the sunnier climate of Kingston, Jamaica, where she will spent the next three weeks training with the Racers Track Club.

The 25-year-old will forego the indoor season to concentrate on the outdoor competition, and in particular, the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona in July where a gold medal would make her only the fifth British athlete to win the ‘Athletics Grand Slam’ of Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European titles.

“I have never been to Jamaica before and I’m very excited about the trip. Jamaican athletics is very strong at the moment and I want to go and experience their passion and excitement first-hand.

“Coach Glen Mills kindly offered me the opportunity to train with the Racers TC group, which includes many top 400m runners like Olympic finalist Rosemarie Whyte, Jamaican champion Ricardo Chambers and Commonwealth medallist Jermaine Gonzales.”

Despite being many miles away, Ohuruogu will feel at home as long-time training partner, British 100m champion Simeon Williamson, has been training in ther island over the winter and coach Lloyd Cowan will join the pair next week.

“Simeon has been training in Jamaica since October and Lloyd will come out for 10 days. I’m already close to many of the top Jamaican athletes as we share the same management company, PACE Sports Management. It will be great to see Usain (Bolt) again and do some training together,” she said.

Ohuruogu plans to open her season with some low-key meets in the US in April and then the IAAF Diamond League where she will face the top 400m runners on a regular basis.