LONDON, July 23 (AFP) - Katharine Merry, the Olympicbronze medallist at 400m, has withdrawn from this weekend’s British trialsfor next month’s world championships with tonsillitis.
The news represents a frustrating setback for Merry,who had only just returned to action after a two-yearabsence with an Achilles injury.
But she will still be able to run in the worldchampionships in Paris provided she can make thequalifying mark of 51.34sec in one of six internationalmeetings scheduled before then.
The Birchfield Harriers star marked her track returnby helping the Great Britain women’s 4x400m relay teamto take silver at the European Cup in Florence lastmonth.
She then ran an enouraging individual race in a GrandPrix meeting at Gateshead on July 13, finishing 5th in52.35sec. But the 29-year-old has been unable to trainsince then.
Im obviously very disappointed to miss taking partin the Trials, especially with it being on my home trackin Birmingham,'' Merry said. It is frustrating that an illness like has affectedmy comeback, but I will continue to take one race at atime.’’
Merry is now aiming to get back to full fitness forthe individual 400m at the London Super League meetingon August 8.