Guy Learmonth smashes PB again but has more in the tank

The Lasswade hopeful came fifth in the 800 metres at the Muller Grand Prix in Birmingham as the USA’s Casmir Laxsom surged clear to head the world rankings.

Learmonth’s time of exactly one minute and 47 seconds was enough to suggest he will be a medal contender in Belgrade but there were mistakes to be corrected, he conceded.

“I didn’t run a smooth race,” Learmonth said. “I ran wide a lot, probably more than 800m. I’m disappointed. I knew the pace was quick but I was just running wide a lot and wasting energy. I probably should have been half a second quicker but I’ll learn from these things. I was a bit tired from last week but I’m really going for Belgrade now. I’ll freshen up now.”

Capital high jumper Allan Smith is all but certain to miss out when UK Athletics selectors announce their European team tomorrow after failing to clear the required standard in Birmingham. The GB internationalist exited with a mark of 2.20m, eight centimetres short of the qualifying height.

Andrew Pozzi took the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.43 secs, in a British one-two with David King, while 110m hurdles world record holder Aries Merritt, who had a kidney transplant in 2015, was third.

Richard Kilty was third in the 60m as he waits to see if he has won a place in the British squad for the European Indoor Championships ahead of selection on Monday.

Birmingham-based Robbie Grabarz, who won London 2012 bronze, finished second in the high jump, behind America’s Erik Kynard.

Double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson won the women’s 60m in 6.98, the first time the Jamaican, who won the women’s 100m and 200m at Rio, has dipped under seven seconds.

America’s Olympic champion Jeff Henderson could only finish fourth in the long jump as South Africa’s Godfrey Mokoena took gold.