TROWBRIDGE sprinter Danny Talbot reached the semi finals of the men's 200m at the European Championships in Helsinki after winning his heat this morning.

Talbot, 21, clocked 20.82 to head his heat with Poland's Kamil Krynski second.

He said: "Strong wind prohibited my best result but I´m pleased with result. I hope to get through to the final.''

The Wiltshire ace qualified ninth fastest overall and was just one-hundredth of a second faster than compatriot Chris Clarke, who had finished second in an earlier heat.

The two are among those battling it out for the final discretionary 200m place for Great Britain at next month's Olympic Games.

Neither has achieved the Olympic A standard qualifying mark of 20.55 this season, although Talbot did run 20.54 last season and needs to do it again to be considered.

He clocked a season's best 20.66 when finishing fourth behind third-placed Clarke, whose personal best is 20.64, at last weekend's Olympic trials in Birmingham.

Talbot also harbours hopes of an Olympic place as part of the 4x100m relay team.

UPDATES FROM TALBOT'S SEMI FINAL LATER TODAY AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND REACTION IN NEXT WEEK'S WILTSHIRE TIMES