Governing body vows to send bolstered squadtoLondonforworldchampionships

BRITISH Athletics chiefs have pledged to take as many athletes as possible to this summer’s IAAF world championships in London rather than leave slots on the start line unfilled.

The governing body came in for criticism for omitting performers with the qualifying marks at the previous edition in Beijing two years ago.

It has also been accused of failing to give young prospects a chance by failing to enter any senior male competitors for this Sunday’s world cross-country championships in Uganda.

Only Scottish marathon runner Callum Hawkins is currently assured of his place in London in August with the bulk of the team due to be chosen on 10 July with Laura Muir also guaranteed an invite if required following her win in last summer’s Diamond Race series. But with the IAAF allocating extra berths for the hosts, performance director Neil Black insists he will pick a final wave of recruits with the required standards to maximise the size of the squad.

“We could not delay full selection until the end of the IAAF period, as that would not allow enough time to arrange for athletes to attend the relevant holding camps,” Black said.

“This added selection process means we will remain consistent with our philosophy of selecting a large and competitive team to represent British Athletics in London and help inspire the next generation of British track and field stars.”

Paralympic medallist Maria Lyle made it a double at the season-opening Dubai Grand Prix by romping to victory in the T35 100 metres by over two seconds in 14.38, 24 hours after the Scot won the 200m.