Campbell handed double sprint chance

Darren Campbell’s anxious 36-hour wait over Olympic selection ended this morning when he was included in the Great Britain team for both the 100 and 200 metres.

Darren Campbell’s anxious 36-hour wait over Olympic selection ended this morning when he was included in the Britain team for both the 100 and 200 metres.

The 200m silver medallist of 2000 pulled out of the final of the longer sprint at the British trials in Manchester on Sunday after suffering a rib injury when he fell at the end of the 100m final.

But given he withdrew on the advice of UK Athletics’ medical staff, the country’s most consistent sprinter was included in the side for Athens announced by the British Olympic Association in London.

Reigning Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis is named in the team to bid to retain her title but faces a race against time to recover from the foot injury she aggravated in the long jump in Manchester.

Max Jones, UK Athletics’ team leader in Athens, yesterday declared Lewis’ problem was not serious and she would be on the plane to Greece.

But last night it was discovered the damage to Lewis’ foot was considerably worse than first thought, and she now has two weeks to make a full recovery.

She said: “I’ll now enter a period of rehabilitation which will decide whether I’m able to compete at the Olympics which are only five weeks away.”

Paula Radcliffe has also been given the chance to double up in events if she wants. The Bedford star is concentrating on the marathon, in which he holds the world record – but to keep her options open in case of illness or injury she is also included in the 10,000m.

Kelly Holmes is also using the 800m distance, at which she won bronze in Sydney, as a back-up event for her main target of 1,500m gold.

Simon Clegg, chef de mission for the British team, said: “I am delighted to welcome these track and field athletes in Team GB.

“It includes Olympic medallists, world championship medallists and a lot of world-class athletes.

“The Olympic Games is the world’s greatest sporting stage – and we hope that our athletes can compete to their potential, attain personal bests and win medals in Athens.”

Jones said: “We have selected 47 athletes with the possibility of further athletes to follow next week.

“The team for Athens is developing as the season unfolds. It was unfortunate that the unseasonal weather in Manchester this weekend subdued some of the performances that otherwise would have been world class.

“The outlook for Athens is looking more optimistic after the trials than it was several weeks ago.

“But it will still be a tough call to match our performances in Sydney.”

Jones added the door for further selection remains open until next Monday - meaning Malachi Davis, who has not been initially chosen, could still make the team.

Davis, the American who was issued with a British passport only last Thursday, has reached the required qualifying standard for the 400m and has been asked to prove his fitness at a meeting in Loughborough.

He will race against Sean Baldock, who finished third in Manchester, but is yet to reach the required 45.55 seconds standard. Reaching it would leave the selectors with a decision to make between him and Davis for the third 400m spot alongside Tim Benjamin and Daniel Caines.

However, Davis – at the very least – is likely to be included in the 4x400m squad when the final team is announced on Monday. Selections are still to be made in some events, including the men’s 800m and long jump.