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CHRISTIAN Malcolm is on his way to Beijing after finishing first in the British Olympic Trials 200m final yesterday, achieving the A standard qualifying time.

The 29-year-old from Eveswell, Newport, was outstanding in the final to clock 20.53 seconds at Birmingham's Alexandra Stadium.

Malcolm overcame a dreadful start in last night's final and tore through the field on the final straight.

Malcolm said: "I've done it! I am on the plane. I've been unfortunate in the past but I am injury free now and can't wait for Beijing."

But the Olympic dream is over for Caldicot's Steve Davies, who gave up his job as a warehouseman to give his Games ambition every chance this summer.

The 24-year-old was left completely crushed by his failure to reach the final of his specialist 1500m on Saturday.

It is more shocking because Davies was second in last year's UK Championships and only missed out on selection for the World Championships in Osaka because he had not achieved the A standard necessary for that competition.

But the 2006 British international clocked 3mins 50.03secs which was six seconds better than his 3mins 56.60secs at the World Indoor Trials at Sheffield last February 9 and only a second more than his first run of the campaign at the Celtic Cup in Cardiff on February 3.

Newport Harrier Davies said: "I'm gutted. I don't know what to make of it.

That's left me out of the Olympics now. I was ok in the race but I didn't get into the top three which would have got me into the final.

"The race just got away from me and I could not get back to the others,"

added Davies, who was in a terribly tough race which included British internationals Michael East, who won the heat in 3mins 47.69secs, and Cardiff's James Thie, third in 3mins 48.73secs.

Davies said: "I'm shocked because I never expected to go out in the heats. I have to sit down with my coach (Tony Lewis) and try and put my finger on it.

"I've just got to get the best out of my season now."

9:51am Monday 14th July 2008

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