TROWBRIDGE sprinter Danny Talbot has been controversially left out of the Great Britain squad for next month's World Championships in Moscow - despite winning two medals at last week's European U23 Championships in Finland.
Talbot, 22, has been overlooked in favour of Adam Gemili, who won 100m gold at the same championships in Tampere last week, but was down in fourth as Talbot claimed silver in the 200m.
Trials winner James Ellington, whose personal best is just three one-hundredths of a second quicker than the Wiltshire man, joins Gemili, along with Delano Williams, who holds dual citizenship with the Turks and Caicos Islands, but whose personal best is 20.70, significantly slower than Talbot's 20.45.
Talbot also helped Britain's U23 men to 4x100m relay gold in Tampere and was a member of the Gb quartet at the London 2012 Olympics, but also saw his claims overlooked for the relay squad for Moscow.
Talbot's omission caused surprise among current and former British athletes on Twitter.
Ellington said: "Really really sad to see my little bro @DannyRakeTalbot not make the team, but its just gonna make him stronger.''
Former Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton added: "Massive shame @DannyRakeTalbot hasn't made the World Champs team.''
2011 world 110m hurdle bronze medallist Andy Turner said: "Hmmm in my opinion @DannyRakeTalbot should of (sic) been selected.''
And former Olympic sprinter turned Great Britain bobsleigh athlete Craig Pickering added: "It's a good job I don't do athletics anymore, if guys like @DannyRakeTalbot don't get picked, I never would have!''
Talbot's Wiltshire-based coach Dan Cossins, the national men’s junior 4x100m coach, said: "You make me more motivated and @DannyRakeTalbot will come back stronger from this! Only we win from this in the end!''
Talbot himself tweeted: "Gutted I haven't been selected but well done to my training partner @arobertson100 and especially @IamDonDej . go get that relay medal!
Two athletes training under Broughton Gifford coach Malcolm Arnold at the University of Bath are included, defending world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene, who now lives in Melksham, and Eilidh Child, in the women's event.
MORE ON THIS STORY IN FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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