Dwain Chambers wins 100m at Aviva European Trials

Aviva European Trials and UK Championships
Dates: 25-27 June Venue: Alexander Stadium
Coverage: Watch live 1730-2000 on Sunday on BBC Two and BBC Sport website (UK only); updates on BBC Radio 5 live

Chambers beats Dasaolu to national title

Dwain Chambers confirmed his place in Britain's team for July's European Championships by winning the 100m national title in Birmingham.

Chambers, 32, won in 10.14 seconds at the European Trials and UK Championships at Alexander Stadium.

James Dasaolu, 22, was second in 10.23, two-hundredths of a second outside the A qualifying standard, with veteran Marlon Devonish third (10.34).

Christian Malcolm came fourth while Mark Lewis-Francis was fifth.

Afterwards Chambers, the fastest European over the distance this year in 9.99, said winning gold at the Europeans in Barcelona, which begin on 27 July, was his "main aim".

"It's just a case of keeping relaxed and not getting overly excited about it," said Chambers, who was banned in 2003 for two years for using performance-enhancing drugs.

606: DEBATE

Just watched the 100m final - the one thing that jumped out at me was the lack of youth making the final

FS1978

"It would mean everything to win a major outdoor title. I've had success indoors but Barcelona would mean I could tick another box on my way up the ladder."

The first two athletes across the line were guaranteed a place on the team, providing athletes have achieved the A standard.

Dasaolu was confident, though, that having come so close running into a slight headwind, he can break 10.21 and seal automatic selection.

"The A standard should be no problem because the conditions were not ideal, into a 0.6 wind I think," he said.

"It's also only my second competition of the season so hopefully things can progress."

The Croydon Harriers sprinter has, at any rate, achieved the minimum B standard, and looks likely to make the team.

In the women's 100m final, Laura Turner pipped 36-year-old Joice Maduaka by one hundredth of a second, with Elaine O'Neill (11.52) was third.

Hannah England, who has already achieved the A standard, sealed her ticket to Barcelona by winning a pedestrian women's 1,500m final in 4:33.23.

In a final-lap sprint, England fended off second-placed Celia Taylor (4:33.81) and world silver medallist Lisa Dobriskey (4:34.29), who took third.

England has suffered disappointments at previous trials, missing out on the 2008 Olympics and last year's World Championships. She was, therefore, ecstatic at sealing her place in the team this time.

"The last couple of years I have literally been sat in the corridor crying my eyes out and I was so scared that it was going to happen again," said the Oxford runner.

"It hasn't and I'm so happy, maybe I'll cry down the corridor anyway! I've managed to put another good year together and the consistency is paying off.

England was fourth in the 800m at the European Team Championships

"I did try altitude training for the first time this year and that seems to be paying off."

Taylor and Dobriskey do not have the qualifying time but the latter is certain to be given more time to achieve it on her return from injury.

"It was the strangest race in the world," reflected Dobriskey. "I couldn't believe how slow it was. There was a change of pace and I tried to go with it but really I'm just happy to be running again."

Morag MacLarty came fourth with former world junior champion Stephanie Twell fifth.

World championship bronze medallist Jenny Meadows was quickest in the 800m semi-finals in a time of 2:02.46.

However, after complaining of a tight calf she has decided not to compete in Sunday's final as a precautionary measure.

"I've had an Achilles problem where my calf tightens up constantly which is why I got near the front to run an honest pace," explained Meadows. "In slow races it can get tighter. The trials are good as a fitness test."

Marilyn Okoro won the other semi-final in 2:03.59, with Vicky Griffiths, Alison Leonard, Danielle Christmas, Jemma Simpson, Emma Jackson and Karen Harewood also making it through.

Lee McConnell won the women's 400m final, minus former world and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, who pulled out of Friday's heats because of a recurring quad injury.

McConnell won in 51.55, five hundredths of a second outside the A standard, while 2007 world silver medallist Nicola Sanders,who is fighting her way back to full fitness after injury, was second in 52.70, with Nadine Okyere (53.07) third.

"It's a good win but to be 0.05 off the qualifying time is quite disappointing," said McConnell. "I am racing in Madrid next week so hopefully I will get a good race there."

Jo Pavey ran a season's best 31:51.91 to claim the women's 10,000m title, well ahead of second and third-place finishers Australian Lara Tamsett (33:10.72) and Claire Hallissey (33:24.15).

Chris Tomlinson was victorious in the long jump with a wind-assisted best of 8.17m, while Perri Shakes-Drayton won the women's 400m hurdles.