McConnell's world hopes look slim after UK 400m trial

Lee McConnell admits her chances of running in the 400 metres at the World Championships have all but disappeared after finishing fourth in the Aviva UK Trials in Birmingham.

The Scot was behind Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu as Perri Shakes-Drayton took a surprise victory. And although McConnell will compete in a low-key meeting in Belgium this week in a bid to land the qualifying standard, she is now likely to have to settle for a spot in the British relay squad for Daegu, South Korea, when the team is confirmed next week.

She said: "I've run much better than this. It wasn't the race I wanted."

European champion Mo Farah ramped up his preparations for Daegu with a comfortable sprint to victory in the 5000m while Dwain Chambers grabbed his fifth UK 100m title in 10.09 seconds. But there was disappointment for Eilidh Child, who came second in the 400m hurdles as Shakes-Drayton made it a double. She said: "I've just made history. No-one's done that before and now I can say I've done."

Lennie Waite led a Scottish 1-2-3 in the 3000m steeplechase, running solo at the front to win in 10:03.18, followed by Emma Raven and Sarah Hood.

Eilish McColgan produced a strong finish to come second to Julia Bleasdale in the women's 5000m in a new best of 15:52.69.

Jessica Ennis, who entered five events, won the high jump to boost her prospects of defending her world title. She said: "I just want to be really ready when it comes to Daegu. I want my best performance there."

Meanwhile, Phillips Idowu defended his late withdrawal from the Aviva UK Trials and Championships, claiming the paying public would prefer him to sign autographs than put in a poor performance. To publicise the event, Idowu's image was plastered all over the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham - his home track - along with world and European heptathlon champion Ennis and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.

But while Ennis competed in five individual events over the weekend and Ohuruogu finished third in the 400m, world triple jump champion Idowu told organisers late on Saturday evening that he would not be competing.

"I didn't think it was respectful to come here and just do one jump or put in a performance which was below par because people pay their money to watch the best British athletes compete at their best and I'm not at my best right now," Idowu told the BBC.

"I think people will prefer me to go out and jump well in Korea than to come here and jump poorly."