Medal hopefuls flop at Crystal Palace

VICTORIES by four genuine Olympic medal hopefuls helped atone for a bitterly disappointing display by Britain’s 100 metres sprinters in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at a sweltering Crystal Palace last night.

Kelly Holmes, Chris Rawlinson, triple jumper Phillips Idowu and Jade Johnson, in the long jump, were all winners. The quartet scored brilliant victories as Britain’s three Olympic 100m selections, Mark Lewis-Francis, Darren Campbell and Jason Gardener all failed to make their final, where Jamaica’s Asafa Powell blew everyone away with a season’s-best run of 9.91 seconds - a British all-comers’ record.

However, their shortcomings were soon forgotten by the home fans as Olympic medal hope Holmes hit the front in the back straight before kicking for home over 1,500m, winning in a time of 4 min 04.06 sec.