GOLD, GOLD, GOLD! ELLINGTON QUALIFIES FOR LONDON!

James Ellington takes gold in Birmingham to secure his place in London 2012.

Trackspeed1 sprinter James Ellington qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games yesterday, with a world class performance in the 200 metres, at the Olympic Trials, in Birmingham.

The 26-year-old Newham and Essex Beagles sprinter, from Addiscombe, annihilated what was probably one of the classiest fields ever in a domestic 200m final.

The stakes were massive as no fewer than five A-standard athletes lined up in the heats having already achieved the time required - but only first and second in the final would gain automatic selection.

It was a day of drama from the off.  Strongly fancied James Alaka failed to qualify for the final at all, and Christain Malcolm, Delano Williams and Richard Kilty were all beaten in their heats and qualified only as the three fastest losers.

Ellington on the other hand meant business.  He cruised home in 21.04 in his heat with an effortless home straight suggesting he had plenty left in the tank.  With live television, and some of the toughest selection criteria for an Olympics to satisfy, the pressure was on.

Unsurprisingly the final was a thrilling spectacle with several athletes making a bid to hit the front off the bend.  But it was Ellington who hit the front at 80 metres, executing coach John Powell's instructions to the letter.

His finish was the strongest in the field, and second-placed reigning champion, and three times Olympian Christian Malcolm could only strain for the line as Ellington dominated the final few metres.

"People have to understand just how much this means," said a very emotional coach John Powell afterwards.  "James had a potentially career terminating injury only 2 years ago, and he has had more than his fair share of ups and downs in the sport.

"To say I am delighted for him is an understatement.  I don't recall feeling this elated after a competition in 36 years of coaching.  James and I have been together for a long long time, and for me he is as good as family.  His run in the final was unbelievable and I shall always remember it. Sheer class!"

James with coach John Powell are understandably all smiles after the Birmingham 200 metres final.

The 2012 summer season has to date been little short of outstanding for Trackspeed1 with virtually everyone smashing their personal bests and/or winning titles or medals.  David Bolarinwa battled through a huge championship weekend a week earlier to qualify for the World Junior Championships - which made his showing at the Birmingham trials even more impressive.

At age 18 and one fo the youngest in the field, he too qualified for the final and finished sixth in 20.93s.  "Make no mistake," said John Powell, "to perform like that seven days after another championship weekend under such pressure and at that level, is exceptional."

Other TS1 sprinters also enjoyed a successful outing in the Midlands at their own levels.  Jason Hussain inparticular ran really well to clock 21.40, flying through the field of his heat on the straight, but just too late to make an impression on the leaders.

England Champion, 18-year-old Edmond Amaning, also ran well having been drawn in lane 2, timing 21.30s, while new squad member Julian Thomas was forced to withdraw quickly after getting out of the blocks with a recurrent nerve problem in his hip.

So now with futures decided, the likes of Bolarinwa and Ellington can confidently begin preparations for the major international championships of the season.  David goes to Barcelona in 2 weeks' time for the World Junior Championships, but James flies out today to Helsinki with the British team competing in the European Championships - but only to compete in the relay.