OTHER SPORT

EDGAR’S STREETS OF GOLD

Tyrone Edgar

Sunday July 20,2008

By Ian Crawford

Tyrone Edgar was ecstatic last night after being chosen for the 100m at the Olympic Games – and equally happy to see the back of the Dwain Chambers court drama.

Edgar had finished fourth at the trials in Birmingham and may not have made the individual 100m team for Beijing if Chambers had won his case against the British Olympic Association.

He said: “This has been one of the strangest weeks of my life and I don’t ever want another one like it. I would have preferred a smoother ride. It has been like a roller-coaster but athletics is like that, you get the ups and downs.

“I was really disappointed at the trials, but I remained hopeful throughout the week I would get selected for the individual 100m. Now I have a big smile on my face. The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world and I am really excited to be part of it.

“I am just thankful the court case is over and grateful for the opportunity. I have been getting a bit irritated with all the questions about it, but now I just want to forget about it and look forward to Beijing. I just want to take it round by round now and do the best I can.”

I am just thankful the court case is over and grateful for the opportunity

Tyrone Edgar

Edgar and Craig Pickering, who was third in the trials, join second-placed Simeon Williamson as the team chasing 100m glory in China.

North Londoner Edgar could have been the sprinter to lose out if Chambers had won his temporary injunction against the BOA’s drugs bylaw as the first three in the trials are often the trio chosen for the event.

Edgar’s 10.06 in May had shot him to the top of the British rankings, but at the trials he clocked 10.22 as Chambers won in 10.00.

The complete athletics team was named yesterday, with 21 of the 68-strong members will be making their Olympic debuts.

For Donna Fraser, who was fourth in the 400m in Sydney in 2000, her selection in the 4 x 400m relay will earn her a fourth Olympic appearance.

It will be some story for sprinters Alex and Ashlee Nelson, who become the first brother and sister to represent Britain in track and field at an Olympic Games since Ian and Mary Stewart in Montreal in 1976.
Alex, 20, runs in the 200m and Ashlee, 17, is in the 4 x 100m relay.

Montell Douglas, 22, has had quite a week, too. On Thursday, she broke the British 100m record which had lasted since 1981 with a run of 11.05, a performance that was rewarded with a Beijing place.

Dave Collins, UK Athletics’ performance director, said: “We have selected a team based on tough criteria. I will be looking for them to continue their progression towards the huge challenges that lie ahead.”