GB Team: No Devonish 200

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Devonish to concentrate on 100m

Devonish won both the 100m and 200m at the trials in Manchester
Great Britain will not risk in-form Marlon Devonish in the 200m at next month’s World Championships in Osaka.
The 31-year-old sprinter has been picked for the 100m but selectors want to keep him fresh for the relay.

World marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe has been left out of the team as she recovers from a back injury.

Triple jumper Phillips Idowu has been included despite fitness concerns, while 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu could return after a 12-month ban.

Interview: Marlon Devonish
Interview: UK Athletics’ Dave Collins

Devonish is disappointed not to be doubling up after winning both sprints at the trials in Manchester but feels it is the right decision to miss the 200m.

“Looking back, the focus has been on individual events for me, but things have changed,” he told BBC Five Live.

"We are now working towards the relay a lot more and it’s become quite a fundamental part of the whole set-up.

“In an ideal world what I’d love to do is run the 100m, see what happens in the 200m and then do the relay.”

We are not stopping anyone doubling up, we are just a bit worried about them tripling up

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins

Explaining the decision not to risk Devonish in the 200m, UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins said the Coventry Godiva star’s best chance of an individual medal was in the 100m.

“This year he’s done fantastically well in both, but he’s looking a genuine final probability in the 100m,” said Collins.

“We are not stopping anyone doubling up, we are just a bit worried about them tripling up. The relay is an important medal opportunity, arguably our best medal opportunity.”

Ohuruogu, whose suspension expires on Monday, could also force her way into the team in the 400m relay squad.

The 23-year-old, who already holds the qualifying time from last season, was banned for missing three out-of-competition drugs tests, but she is taking part in a special time trial at Crystal Palace on Thursday.

606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the GB squad

A UK Athletics spokesman said selectors would take account of Ohuruogu’s performance in that run, which has been set up by her coach Lloyd Cowan, when choosing the team for Osaka.

Ohuruogu is believed to have been performing well in training, and an impressive performance in the trial - which will not be a competitive race - could see her welcomed back to the fold.

Despite missing out on the Worlds, Radcliffe, who had a baby in January, has confirmed her intention to return to action in the autumn.

“I’m not going to rush or take any short-cuts trying to get back competing,” said the Bedford star, the only Briton to win an individual medal at the World Championships in Helsinki two years ago with a storming marathon performance.

“If things go to plan, I am hoping to return to racing in the early autumn.”

The 33-year-old was back into training soon after her daughter’s arrival but suffered setbacks as stress fractures at the bottom of her spine, linked to childbirth, and they stemmed her enthusiasm for competitive action.

Radcliffe was the only Briton to win an individual medal at the World Championships two years ago

“I’ve only done a couple of track sessions and I bruised my foot in one,” she added.

“I had to back off and there’s no way I’m going to set off my back problem again by being impetuous.”

The 49 athletes already picked are described as “first wave” selections with a second and final list of athletes to follow on 7 August.

That second wave could yet include sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, who finished third at the UK Championships at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the selectors have left places open for 400m athlete Tim Benjamin and 800m runner Becky Lyne.

Benjamin and Lyne have struggled with injury in recent weeks, but both will run in the London Grand Prix on Friday.

Idowu, one of Britain’s few genuine medal contenders, pulled out of the UK Championships at the weekend after just one jump and has made it clear that he will not travel unless he is fully fit.

I’m satisfied the selection panel has picked a team capable of supporting our ambitious targets for Osaka

Dave Collins

Fellow triple jumper Nathan Douglas is definitely out because of a serious hamstring injury.

As well as Douglas, Sam Ellis and Rhys Williams - European bronze medallists in the 800m and 400m hurdles respectively - will miss the trip to Japan because of injury.

“I’m satisfied the selection panel has picked a team capable of supporting our ambitious targets for Osaka,” said Collins.

“The team is full of talent and we will be looking for every member of the squad to step up and perform to the high level required at a World Championships.”

UKA have stated that their target for Osaka is to get 14 athletes to reach their respective individual finals, with 20-25% of the finalists going on to win medals.

The World Championships begin on 25 August in Japan.

Great Britain team for World Championships (First Wave Selection):

Men:
100m: Marlon Devonish, Craig Pickering
400m: Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele
800m: Michael Rimmer
1500m: Andy Baddeley
5000m: Mo Farah
Marathon & IAAF World Cup: Peter Riley, Daniel Robinson
3000m steeplechase: Andrew Lemoncello
110m hurdles: Andy Turner
400m hurdles: Dale Garland
High Jump: Martyn Bernard, Germaine Mason
Pole Vault: Steve Lewis
Long Jump: Greg Rutherford, Chris Tomlinson
Triple Jump: Phillips Idowu
4x100m relay: Marlon Devonish, Tyrone Edgar, Mark Lewis-Francis, Craig Pickering
4x400m relay: Tim Benjamin, Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele, Robert Tobin

Women:
100m: Montel Douglas
200m: Joice Maduaka
400m: Nicola Sanders
800m: Jemma Simpson, Marilyn Okoro
1500m: Abby Westley, Lisa Dobriskey
5000m: Jo Pavey
10,000m: Jo Pavey
Marathon & IAAF World Cup: Tracey Morris, Mara Yamauchi
3000m steeplechase: Helen Clitheroe, Hatti Dean
400m hurdles: Tasha Danvers-Smith
Pole Vault: Kate Dennison
Javelin: Goldie Sayers
Heptathlon: Jessica Ennis, Kelly Sotherton
20km walk: Joanna Jackson
4x100m relay: Montel Douglas, Emily Freeman, Jeanette Kwakye, Joice Maduaka, Laura Turner
4x400m relay: Vicky Barr, Donna Fraser, Lee McConnell, Jenny Meadows, Nicola Sanders

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intresting they leave off williamson who beat pickering at U23’s. supposedly he can’t carry a stick, so with the relay target(best they can get without horrible stick work from JA and USA is third so i dont really get it…).

also leaving off benjiman is a bit intresting.

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Regarding Benjamin: Since it was the UKA who engineered his (less than stellar) coaching setup with Colin Jackson, maybe they feel somewhat obliged to leave the gate open for him should he come to better form before the entry confirmation shut-off date, presumably in mid August.

I’m assuming Benjamin has not yet run the UKA qualifying criteria. The other thing is that if they may be worried about an athlete not going the rounds, perhaps it is astute to save him for one race - a medal-race - which may be the 4x4 in Tim’s case. Pure speculation on my behalf though.

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Could someone explain this to me, please?

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they have no shot at a medal unless someone drops a stick though. usa, ja and the bahamas. all 3 have run less than A squads who went sub 3:01 at penn relays in less than ideal weather in late april.

all 3(usa, ja and bah) have 4 guys faster than the UK #1 in the flat 4, the bahamas only if you count an opening leg on the relay, but still if you have 3-4(or 10+ in the USA’s case) guys ahead of the UK #1 then the UK might as well just pack up.

basicly, what i’m trying to say, but am failing pretty badly, is that UKA, should provided he shows any symblance of past form, put Tim in the open and perhaps use him on anchor, but not slog him through the rounds of the 4x4 under any circumstances.

uka did screw him over with a coaching situation that obviously hasn’t worked for either him or the hurdler(williams i think?) and hopefully they are stepping up by leaving a window to qualify, but for a guy who was as high up in the world rankings at one point, getting the gift of the chance to qualify isn’t much.

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So they have a team of 4 in the relays.

That makes me think they can’t make the finals.

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they’ll make 4x1 final most likely.

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I think they have the A qualifying even though they didn’t win the trails.

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I understand that, but it seems to me a bit harsh not to include a 2nd runner, e.g., Jeanette Kwakye, who had a good season so far at least in the 100 m, no? Is there any chance for the 2nd place by someone else or is this final?

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I have a feeling that 2nd wave of sprinters will include Jeanette in the 100 and 200 and maybe Laura Turner.

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If they hit the qualifying times then they go.

Has anyone noticed that the two men/youths that came second and third in the mens 200m were also in the Euro juniors and placed in the top three of the 200m for the UK champs? My point is the Euro champs helped them to peak, if you consider it as part of a taper, even though I know that Luke Fagan did not do a taper because I see him train. Now, bearing this in mind it shows how even more essential it is to try to replicate the intensities of a championship through a progressive taper.

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If the kid has been battering his body all season and eases up for a major championships you will probably see a sharp rise in performance for the weeks following it. Last year my athletes ran pbs at a major champs and then again 9 days later. It’s kind of like recovering from the champs gives you another mini taper…

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I don’t know any of the girls personally, but I hope this is the case.

Glad to see Emily Freeman back again! :slight_smile:

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I now hear that it will be a race off at the GP in Crystal Palace…the start list for this is:

WOMEN

UKA 100m

RHIANNON BURDON GBR
AMINA CEESAY JAITEH GBR
HAYLEY JONES GBR
MONTELL DOUGLAS GBR
EMILY FREEMAN GBR
JEANETTE KWAKYE GBR
JOICE MADUAKA GBR
LAURA TURNER GBR

Should be interesting!!

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There’s ALWAYS a shot at a medal in a relay with a reasonable team. That’s the first place you look for one! Anything can happen!

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The A standard is 11.30! Montell ran 11.28 at the euro u23s. Jnette won AAA but she hasnt got the A standard yet. She’ll probably be in the 2nd selection.

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at least this year, the people at the top in the 4x4 seem too difficult for the UK to beat for medals. Granted that anything can happen (didn’t france win a 4x1 world gold in mens and womens one year). However it’s just looking like England doesn’t have 4 guys equal to the alternates for JA and the USA, at least at the moment they really don’t seem to have the reasonable squad that you mention.

I think with their tranditonally good stick handleing the UK could easily medal in the 4x1 on the guys side.

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Interesting indeed! :slight_smile:

Thanks G-force! I didn’t know about Montell’s time in u23s! How are things going for you?

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http://www.ukathletics.net/results/20070803_London/Data/W/100_R_i.htm