400m semi-finalist Tom Druce. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0599297)

LEE MERRIEN and Tom Druce both underlined their status among the elite end of UK athletics although both came home from the Olympic trials in Birmingham with no medals or personal bests.

Merrien, perhaps, had most reason to be satisfied, having placed seventh of 27 starters in a massive field for the 5,000 metres.  The island record-holder was in the mix for the medals until the last lap dash for the line when his lack of raw speed proved his undoing.

His time of 14min. 3.84sec. was decent enough in the conditions and afterwards he agreed that it had been an ‘OK’ showing.  ‘It was a tactical race and I was in the lead group of seven or eight with a lap to go.  But I didn’t quite have the finish I thought I’d have.’

Druce ran three fine races in two days, all sub 48sec. efforts, but did not quite make the televised 400m final.