Reprieve for Kilty as Europe let star defend 60m crown

RICHARD KILTY has been handed a shock place in next month’s european Indoor Championships by the organisers, despite failing to meet British Athletics’ controversial qualifying standard. the two-time champion, 29, had resigned himself to missing out on defending his 60metres title in Glasgow after falling short of the national team qualifying mark. But in an unusual move yesterday, the european Athletics Council bypassed British Athletics and invited Kilty to compete. It is a stunning reprieve for the 2014 World Indoor champion, whose best time in the qualifying period of 6.63sec was inside the european Championships criteria of 6.78sec but outside the British Athletics standard of 6.60sec. British Athletics have confirmed Kilty will run in their colours on March 2. Kilty said: ‘I am really thankful to european Athletics.’