Rutherford targets gold missing from his collection

GREG Rutherford will target the one global title he has yet to win after being named in Britain’s team for the World Indoor Championships from March 1-4.

Rutherford put his injury nightmare behind him to win the British title at Arena Birmingham on Saturday, his first competition since June last year following groin and ankle operations.

And although the former Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth champion did not achieve the long jump qualifying standard of 8.19 metres, as the host nation Britain are permitted to enter one athlete in an event where there is not otherwise any representation.

Rutherford admitted he feared for his career after competing just three times in 2017 and missing out on the chance to defend his world championship title in London.

Former Olympic bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz and Morgan Lake will contest the men’s and women’s high jump thanks to host nation places, Grabarz missing the British Indoors due to injury and Lake failing to achieve the qualifying height.

Elliot Giles also gets a place in the 800m, but the IAAF turned down an application for a host nation slot for pole vaulter Adam Hague, who won the British title with a personal best of 5.65m at the weekend. The qualifying standard was 5.78m. Double European indoor champion Laura Muir has been selected to contest both the 1,500m and 3,000m at Arena Birmingham in a 31-strong team.