Triple jumper Nathan Douglas says his omission from the Great Britain team for next month’s IAAF World Championships in Beijing did not come as a surprise.
The squad for the championships, which begin on August 22, was announced yesterday and includes 110m hurdler Lawrence Clarke, from Christmas Common, near Watlington.
Douglas’s selection hopes hung in the balance after only meeting the qualification standard of 16.90m once.
The 32-year-old Oxford City AC athlete was denied the chance to jump it for a second time when forced to pull out of the Hérculis Diamond League in Monaco with a thigh injury.
He said: “I’m disappointed not to have been selected and I am not surprised.
“In life you have to expect no favours, expect no handouts and take your destiny into your owns hands and give people no choice.
“Unfortunately I haven’t been able to do that on this occasion and left myself vulnerable to others belief, faith and decisions.”
Clarke is the only male hurdler named in the team.
He booked his spot after beating the standard of 13.47secs for a second time at Loughborough on July 18.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here