LONDON 2012: Non-league footballer Gemili runs himself into Olympic contention

Posted: Saturday 2nd June 2012 | 20:53

NON-League footballer Adam Gemili has run himself right into contention for Great Britain's Olympic team with a storming 100m personal best in Germany.

The 18-year old, who played for Thurrock in the Conference South last season, clocked 10.11 seconds in the heats and then improved to 10.08 secs in the final to move top of this year's UK rankings.

He is only the second athlete to achieve the UK Athletics qualifying standard of 10.18 secs for the blue-riband sprint event, James Dasaolu running the time last month in France.

The surprise performance also made him the second quickest British junior of all-time behind Dwain Chambers and only France's Christophe Lemaitre has gone quicker in Europe this season.

Elsewhere, Lawrence Clarke moved top of the 110m hurdles British rankings with a 13.33 sec personal best in Geneva.

The men's sprint hurdles is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events at this month's Aviva 2012 Trials and UK Championships, where the top two athletes in each event will guarantee their slots, providing they have achieved their respective qualifying standards.

Clarke is now just ahead of training partner Andrew Pozzi on the UK rankings while world bronze medallist Andy Turner is just behind and former world finalist Will Sharman is eyeing a place.

Eilidh Child also ran a personal best in Geneva, clocking 54.96 secs to break her own Scottish 400m hurdles record and move seventh in the 2012 world rankings.

Conrad Williams and Luke Lennon-Ford both achieved qualifying standard when finishing first and second over 400m while James Ellington recorded 20.55 secs in the 200m - spot on the A standard time.

It means four British athletes have now achieved the required mark over 200m - the others are James Alaka, Christian Malcolm and Richard Kilty.