KATRINA Hart has locked herself away in the library for the majority of 2011 — but is ready to blow the cobwebs away in style at next week’s BT Paralympic World Cup.

The 21-year-old has been busy away from the track at the University of Bath as she comes to the end of her sports performance degree.

But the Worcestershire athlete will put the books down as she heads to Manchester to try and win World Cup gold having won 100-metre and 200m silver last year.

It will be Hart’s first outing since she stormed to 200m gold and 100m bronze at January’s IPC World Athletics Championships in New Zealand and she can’t wait to get back to the familiar surroundings of an athletics arena.

“It has been really tough recently juggling my university work with my training as I have had loads of assignments to do and over 22,000 words to write,” she said.

“But I have finished my dissertation now and everything is winding down which is nice because I can start focusing completely on my training.

“I am really looking forward to getting out in Manchester because it will be the first time I have competed since New Zealand and I want to blow the cobwebs out.

“The worlds were great because it gave me such a confidence boost that I can run alongside the best.

“So now I can concentrate fully on my training, I want to build on that great January and that starts with the Paralympic World Cup.”

As well as her double medal haul from New Zealand, last season saw Hart storm to the 100m crown at October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

And while admitting she is entering the unknown in Manchester at the largest international multi-sport disability event leading up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games in terms of who she will be up against, she says it will be nice to be back in front of home fans.

“I always enjoy running in Manchester because you normally get a really good crowd there and it always spurs me on,” the Birchfield Harrier added.

“I don’t actually know who I will be up against and won’t probably find out until I turn up on the day but I don’t mind and will just be happy to be back out there again.

“With London 2012 coming around quickly the Paralympic World Cup will be a nice taster of what to expect and I can’t wait to get going.”

The BT Paralympic World Cup takes place in Manchester from May 23 to 28 with elite international athletes competing in Swimming, Athletics and Wheelchair Basketball. Go to btparalympicworldcup.com for tickets and more information.