RIO SELECTION BATTLES
PLACES IN TEAM GB FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE AT STAKE THIS WEEKEND
BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALEXANDER STADIUM, BIRMINGHAM JUNE 24-26
THIS weekend, British athletes will be vying for national championship medals but the titles may be more of an afterthought for many as uppermost in many athletes’ minds will be securing their Olympic selection, writes Steve Smythe.
The selection process is far from crystal clear but any athlete with two qualifying performances who finishes in the first two places is guaranteed selection.
The added complication this time is that for the first time in the Olympics, the IAAF wants to fill events to certain numbers.
However, judging by what happened with last year’s World Championship selections, athletes deemed as not meeting the initial selection criteria won’t be added just because they are in the IAAF’s list of available athletes and there are few places open anyway as the IAAF made the track standards far too easy.
Adam Gemili: clocked a 20.37 200m win in Brussels last weekend in a return to form
MARK SHEARMAN