DANNY Talbot vowed to pull out all the stops to earn a spot on Great Britain's Olympic team after missing out in the UK Trials in Birmingham today.
The Trowbridge sprinter finished fourth in the men's 200m as James Ellington and Christian Malcolm - whom Talbot had beaten in the morning heats - booked their tickets to London 2012.
Talbot clocked his season's best (20.66) to win his morning heat, but failed to match that in the final, recording 20.71, still some way outside the Olympic A qualifying standard.
A third discretionary place in the 200m remains an outside chance - third-placed Chris Clarke also hasn't achieved the A standard - although Talbot's best hope of an Olympic place may lie in the 4x100m relay.
The 21-year-old will run the 200m and relay at the European Championships in Helsinki next weekend and is determined to make the most of his final chance to make an impression.
"I'm gutted. That was winable I think,' said the Wiltshire athlete.
"After the heats this morning, I ran it so comfortably and thought I could take another couple of tenths off.
"But to actually get slower in the final, I'm gutted.
"My start isn't the best, but I was with Christian (Malcolm) in the heat, so I should be able to be with him in the final, but it wasn't to be.
"I'm doing the 200m and relay in Helsinki and hopefully I can go out there and get the job done.
"I came here to get the job done and I didn't do it, but hopefully I can go out to Helsinki, get the (qualifying) time and be competitive Day three of the Trials was another good day for Broughton Gifford hurdles coach Malcolm Arnold. Andrew Pozzi, Lawrence Clarke and Eilidh Child practically guaranteed their berths on Team GB.
Pozzi and Clarke’s first and second place finishes in the 110m hurdles and Child’s silver in the women’s 400m hurdles made it a happy occasion for Arnold's Bath-based athletes.
MORE ON WILTSHIRE'S OLYMPIANS IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND AT THE OLYMPICS SECTIONS OF THE WEBSITES GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK
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