Dobriskey selected ahead of England for World Championship

HANNAH England has been omitted from Great Britain's team for next month's World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

RELIEF: Lisa Dobriskey has been selected ahead for next month's IAAF World Championships in Berlin (Getty Images)

The three names for the women's 1500m certainly caused the selectors the most headaches as they put the finishing touches to their Berlin-bound squad - which was announced today in Birmingham.

Charlene Thomas secured a surprise win at the Aviva National Championships to book her place, giving them a straight choice between England, Lisa Dobriskey and Steph Twell for the two remaining slots.

Twell, despite mixed results in recent weeks, is the quickest in the UK this season while Dobriskey was fourth in last year's Olympic final and is seasoned major championship campaigner.

In the end that swayed the decision in her favour, although England has run 4.05.87 this season, compared to Dobriskey's best of 4.08.27.

Dobriskey finished third in her comeback race at Crystal Palace this weekend - beating all her major domestic rivals. She had said she hoped it would be enough to secure a place on the plane.

"There were four strong contenders for selection,” said British team head coach Charles van Commenee.

“Thomas won the trials very impressively and earned her place and Dobriskey was selected on her performance at Crystal Palace, especially after so long out of action, and, of course, what she did at last year’s Olympics.

“It came down to a choice between Twell and England. Twell beat England in the trials and then lost to her at Crystal Palace.

"But she had run the quickest time of the year and had achieved the ‘A’ qualifying standard twice. It was a very difficult selection, there was a good case England as well.” 

Controversial sprinter Dwain Chambers has been selected for both the 100m and 200m - despite not running the latter event at the trials. Former Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Marlon Devonish has also earned another international vest in the 200m.

There are 23 national champions in the 60-strong squad, which includes reigning world and Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu.

However, her participation remains in doubt after a series of withdrawals from recent races, including last weekend's Aviva Grand Prix in London.

But van Commenee is confident she will recover from her current hamstring problems.

He added: "This team has been selected to give us the best possible results at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.

"I expect to see athletes demonstrating their ability to perform at the highest level under pressure. 



"Of course we are on a long term journey to 2012, but we can't wait three years for the medals and performances, I want to see both in Berlin and then more next year and the year after until we get to London. This is our first staging post on our toughest ever journey."

Jess Ennis is expected to be Britain’s best medal contender in the heptathlon and will also compete in the 100m hurdles thanks to her 12.81second personal best.

However, there are some absences as injuries and dips in form have conspired against some of the more successful names from last year’s Olympics.

Tom Parsons and Martyn Bernard, both high jump finalists in Beijing are omitted after failing to reach the qualifying standard while evergreen Donna Fraser doesn’t earn a relay place, which will surely mean the end of her long and medalled career.

Jeanette Kwakye, sixth in last year’s Olympic 100m final, is forced to settle for a spot on the relay team.

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