CHRISTINE CLOSE TO BRINK AFTER CHAMPS DISASTER

CHRISTINE OHURUOGU could miss next month’s World Athletics Championships in London after failing to qualify for the women’s 400m final at the British trials in Birmingham.

The former Olympic champion, 33, finished third in her heat in a time of 54.41secs, raising doubts over her ability to continue performing at the highest level.

The top two finishers this weekend will qualify automatically for London provided they meet the qualification time, with a third place granted at the discretion of the selectors.

But Ohuruogu (right) also a former double world champion, was so far adrift it would appear her best chance of figuring in London will be as part of the women’s relay squad.

Ohuruogu had reversed an earlier retirement decision after last year’s Rio Olympics, but indicated she would cut down her training regime as she targeted a place in London.

Her disappointment comes two weeks after the news that she is set to become Britain’s most decorated world medallist due to Russian athlete Anastasiya Kapachinskaya failing a drugs test.

The announcement is likely to result in Ohuruogu being given relay bronze for both the CRAIG JONES 2009 and 2011 World Championships, enabling her to move two clear of Mo Farah with eight career world medals to her name.

Dina Asher-Smith declared herself still on course for next month’s World Championships despite finishing in a disappointing sixth place in the women’s 100m metres final.

Competing for the first time since she fractured her foot in a training ground accident in February, she clocked 11.53secs, well down on top two Asha Philip and Daryl Neita, who have qualified outright.

It means Asher-Smith will now have to focus on convincing the selectors that she deserves a place in the 200m squad for London, her favoured event and one in which, as the reigning European champion, she does not necessarily need to hit the 23.10 qualifying mark.

A tearful Asher-Smith said: “I have been training for three weeks so I am so happy – everyone said I was not going to be able to run at all in 2017 but I thought, I just can’t let that happen because it is a World Championships.

“The London dream is definitely back alive – I was so scared. It is something I have really worked for.”