26th June 2014

Dasaolu Out Of British Champs

26 June 2014

British Athletics can confirm that James Dasaolu (coach: Steve Fudge) will begin his 2014 outdoor season next month to allow him the best possible opportunity to achieve qualification for the European Championships in Zurich.

Dasaolu, who stormed to a personal best of 9.91 sec at last year’s Sainsbury’s British Championships, has been granted special dispensation by Performance Director Neil Black to focus on the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix next month as well as the Diamond League race in Lausanne, with the aim to demonstrate best possible form before the team selection date on 14 July.

Dasaolu said: “The trials have just come a week too early for me. The best opportunity I have to achieve the standard is at those two races, and I am really grateful that the team supporting me are helping us make these decisions.

“Even though I won’t be there at the Sainsbury’s British Championships this weekend I know the sprint events are going to be amazing, and I will be watching very closely to see how the guys do.”

Even in Dasaolu’s absence, the men’s 100m will feature a stellar line-up, including Dwain Chambers (Rana Reider), who will go for his fifth straight title, which would equal Linford Christie’s record of eight British 100m titles. 9.96 man Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) will also be in the field, as will IAAF World Indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty (Reider). Other contenders will include Kilty’s training partners Harry Aikines-Areetey and James Ellington (both Reider).

Tickets for the Sainsbury’s British Championships are still available here: http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/sainsburys-british-championships/