Gemili left to wait and hope after trials blow

Adam Gemili’s hopes of individual selection for next month’s World Championships in London were left hanging by a thread after he trailed in sixth in the men’s 200m final at the British trials yesterday.

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and Danny Talbot claimed the two automatic qualification places, while fourth-placed Zharnel Hughes is in pole position to take the third discretionary place.

Gemili refused to blame an apparent thigh strain for his below-average performance, and said he would still target improvements in the hope his past successes could count for something.

Mitchell-Blake, competing for the first time on British soil since emigrating to Jamaica at the age of 13, raced to a championship record 20.18 seconds, with Talbot claiming second in 20.20.

The selectors face a similar headache in the women’s 200m after Shannon Hylton stormed to a surprise victory with pre-race favourite Desiree Henry in third.

Hylton clocked a personal best of 22.94 secs to secure automatic qualification and will be joined by second-placed Bianca Williams, who held on to finish second in 23.05.

British record holder Dina Asher-Smith looks more likely to be handed the discretionary third 200m slot despite disappointing in Saturday’s 100m as she continues her comeback from a serious foot injury.

Reece Prescod caused an upset in the men’s 100m, beating James Dasaolu in the final stride to win in 10.08. Last week’s European Nations Team Championship winner Harry Akines-Aryeetey was third.

Cramp forced the withdrawal of CJ Ujah from the final having won his semi-final in 9.98.

Asha Philip claimed her fourth 100m title in 11.23 with Daryll Neita also securing her place on the team.

Matt Hudson-Smith ran a season’s best 44.99 as he won the men’s 400m title.

Morgan Lake was the star of the first day with a 1.96m high jump personal best, the third highest by a British woman.

Adam Gemili: finished sixth in the 200m final.