Shakes-Drayton too quick for Child with 400m hurdles win

Eilidh Child came a cropper in her duel with Perri Shakes-Drayton as her British rival moved into second in the all-time UK rankings over 400 metres hurdles at the Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace.

The Londoner, who pipped Child to the UK title three weeks ago, delivered a blistering run to win in 53.77 seconds, destroying a world-class field that included European champion Irina Davydova who was adrift in second. It moved Shakes-Drayton into second in the 2012 world rankings and the 23-year-old is now gunning for gold at the Olympics.

She said: “Today I thought there was an opportunity to race against the best girls. I thought come on girl, pull your socks up. Get some aggression on you. There was some aggression in me.” Child was fifth in a time of 55.91 which was almost a second outside her 2012 best.

The Scot said: “It wasn’t a great race to be honest. I didn’t go out hard enough at the start and then I was trying to play catch up coming into the home straight. I would have liked to have run a bit better but I’m happy to have just finished high up in the group of athletes, it was a group of world-class girls out there.”

World champion Dai Greene, appointed as captain of Great Britain’s Olympic team, came off second best to Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson. However, the Welshman is confident he can still find additional gains.

“I think it was my third fastest time ever so I can’t be too disappointed,” Greene said. “I’ve got a few more weeks to get a bit sharper for the Olympics and I’m going in the right direction I think. So I’m looking forward to the Olympics and hopefully I can get one over Culson then.”

Eilish McColgan finished eighth in the 5000 metres in a new personal best of 15:44.62, with three-times world champion Vivian Cheruiyot taking victory. World Champion Mo Farah cruised to victory in the 5000 metres. American Tyson Gay won the 100m final in a time of 10.03s into a headwind of 1.2 metres per second, with compatriot Ryan Bailey and Jamaican Nesta Carter in second and third.

“I’m in pretty good shape, I just need to work on my groin area with my physio and I should be good to go,” the former world champion said. “I feel I know how to mentally prepare for this type of weather and this was the best place to prepare for the Games.”

British quartet Dwain Chambers, Mark Lewis-Francis, Andrew Robertson and Simeon Williamson had all failed to advance from the earlier heats, with Chambers the quickest in 10.35s.

This afternoon features Olympic 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu, who will face Diamond League leader Amantle Montsho, while Phillips Idowu, returning from injury, meets world triple jump champion Christian Taylor in a dress rehearsal for their  expected clash in London.