Young Harry gripped by Games fever

4:11pm Thursday 17th July 2008

Sutton sprinter Harry Aikines-Ayreetey was dreaming of Beijing after finishing sixth in the men's 100m final at the Olympic trials in Birmingham, writes Matt Davis.

The 19-year-old was well off the pace, clocking 10.26 seconds as Dwain Chambers romped home at the head of the field.

It left his fate in the selectors' hands - and his prodigious talent was recognised when he was named in the 4x100m squad for the Olympics yesterday.

The Sutton & District runner admitted that the trials had come too early for him to finish in the top two - and claim an automatic individual berth.

"I wanted that individual spot so badly," said Aikines-Ayreetey, a former BBC young sports personality of the year.

"I presume there is still a chance to get on that plane to Beijing.

"I am fifth in line at the moment so it is going to be hard, but I just have to keep hoping.

"I have to keep going and prove to the selectors I am good enough."

The former Greenshaw High School pupil declared he would get faster as he continues his recovery from a catalogue of injuries.

He has had a series of back and hamstring injuries this season, and is convinced his best is yet to come in 2008.

"I am not happy with this time and it has been a really hard season," he added.

"I have had a bad hamstring injury, which I got at Loughborough in May and again on June 6, so I have been working hard to come back from that.

"This was my first race for a month, and I am still coming back to form, so watch this space."

l Kingston & Polytechnic Harriers' Dominique Blaize finished sixth in the long jump final, but failed to reach the final of the 200m after finishing fifth in a semi-final won by 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu.

The 20-year-old heptathlete also pulled out of the 100m hurdles and the high jump.

* The Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative supports Britain's young sporting hopefuls on their journey to London 2012. For more information visit lloydstsblondon2012. co.uk/Local_Heroes

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