|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Baldock creates selection headache
BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug 13 (AFP) - Sean Baldock's surprise second place in the 400 metres here on Sunday in the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) Championships/British Olympic trials may have blown away Iwan Thomas' last-ditch hopes of competing in next month's Olympic Games. Whatever decision is made by the selectors when they meet to choose the team on Monday, the 23-year-old Belgrave Harrier has deprived at least one Welshman of an individual place in Sydney. Either European champion Thomas or World Indoor gold medallist Jamie Baulch, who finished third in today's final, will miss out after Mark Richardson secured his place with a victory in 45.55 seconds. However, Richardson must still wait to see if the International Amateur Athletic Federation support UK Athletics not-guilty decision following a positive test for the banned substance nandrolone. But it was Baldock who sent shock waves around the stadium with his impressive display. "I still cannot believe it," said Baldock, who had already run a personal best and Olympic qualifying time of 45.20secs in the semi-final. "Last month in Budapest I ran the worst race of my life. I then came home and learned how to run 400m properly and look what happens. I'm shocked." While Baldock will sleep soundly in his bed tonight, Baulch - who won his semi-final with the fastest time by a European this year of 45.06secs - will be left to sweat it out along with Thomas, who preferred to watch the race at home rather than view it live. Thomas, who only began serious training after recovering from a hamstring injury five days ago, now knows he will have to produce a great effort when he runs in a low-key international meeting just outside of Malmo on Tuesday night. But on his form this summer, it will be difficult for the selectors to ignore the much stronger claims of his fellow countryman. A fully fit Baulch, having undergone three tough rounds in the same number of day's in Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, honourably said he will accept the selectors decision. "It's a tough one for them to call, but I can understand why they might wait until Iwan proves his fitness," said Baulch. "If it had been anyone but him with his great championships record, they would have picked the first three. "But I have ran the fastest time by a European this year and now it will be down to Iwan to try and do likewise. "I'll just have to wait and see what they decide. From my point of view it's all in the hands of the selectors - and I don't envy them their job." For once out of the spotlight, Richardson sidestepped expressing an opinion. He said: "It's one for the selectors and with Jamie being the fastest in Europe it will be a hard choice. He may have ran too fast yesterday and just didn't click today." Richardson also stressed that he is clear to run abroad and not just in this country and has a race arranged in Brussels on August 25. Also in a sweat if she is given the opportunity to gain the qualifying standard of two minutes 0.50secs is Kelly Holmes, who won a fifth AAA 800m title in her first race for 11 months. It was a tremendous achievement by the former army sergeant who has spent more time in Accident and Emergency waiting rooms than on the running track in the past few months with a series of niggling injuries, the worst being an Achilles tendon problem. Holmes, running an even-paced race some 20m ahead of Claire Raven and Jo Fenn, was on schedule to easily make the requirement for Sydney, but she wilted in the final straight to finish in 2:02.08. Yet Holmes remains buoyant in her quest to make the qualifying standard by the August 21 deadline and to compete in what would be her third Olympics. "I'm relieved it's all over and I'm still in one piece," said the 30-year-old former World bronze medallist. "I'm back running and injury free and I know the Olympic qualification time is within me. "I had no expectations before coming here this weekend except getting back on to a track and into a race. But yes, I did want to show some form to the selectors. "Four weeks ago I really didn't think that I would be able to run at all let alone today. "But my specialist gave me the all clear to start training a week later and my coach, physio, all of us, have worked so hard for this run today.
|
