Lee McConnell will head for Munich on Monday in the hope that German guru Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wolfahrt can help salvage her season.
Lee McConnell will head for Munich on Monday in the hope that German guru Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wolfahrt can help salvage her season.
The multiple championship medallist has a hamstring problem and although she was prepared to run the 400 metres last night, she was advised by UK Athletics not to take part in the Aviva World Championships trials in Birmingham.
Olympic champion Christine Ohurugu was the fastest qualifier in 51.86 seconds, but world silver medallist Nicola Sanders is also sidelined, and what looked like being one of Britain's strongest women's event at the World Championships in Berlin could now be anything but. McConnell had an MRI scan on Tuesday, and hamstring inflammation was identified.
"I don't know what caused it, but I had a bit of a fall down stairs and that may have contributed," she said. "I am using my own money to go to Munich. Mueller-Wolfahrt has treated me three times before and I hope he can sort this out."
McConnell was just two hundredths outside the 51.50 qualifying standard in beating Sanders early this season, but has not progressed since However, she added: "But I am confident that if I am pain free, I can get a very quick time. If I can run at Crystal Palace in a fortnight, I can still make the world team and run well there." Mueller-Wolfhart has treated what reads like a Who's Who of sportsmen and women.
His patients have included marathon world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes, and former world 100m record-holder Maurice Greene.
Mueller-Wolfhart was also doctor to the German national football team and Jurgen Klinsmann, Ronaldo, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, and Harry Kewell have also been among his patients Cricketer Darren Gough and golfer Jose-Maria Olazabal also had their careers saved by the German's clinic. His treatments include injections of hylart (extracted) from the crest of cockerels), honey, and calves' blood. Meanwhile, Dwain Chambers continues to pursue his doping rehabilitation in the hope of racing in Berlin.
He was blocked from the Olympics last year by prevailing legislation which does not apply to the world event.
Chambers was the fastest qualifier from last night's opening round of the 100m (10.20sec), and believes he will qualify for the World Championships at both 100 and 200m, claiming it's not a matter of "if" but "when".
The 200m heats are scheduled just 62 minutes after the 100m final tonight. Nick Smith, the five-times Scottish 100m champion from Fife, drawn in the adjacent lane to Chambers, qualified second in a season's best of 10.48. Smith said: "I knew he'd come past, and didn't panic."
Simeon Williamson was second fastest, winning his heat in 10.24.
Chambers said: "That keeps me on my toes. He fancies his chances, but I'm not having these young guys come and beat me. I'm in shape, and if the wind is right I can go under 10 flat.
"But I hope nobody wants to be a hero in the first round of the 200, as I don't want to run faster than necessary."
Claire Gibson (Kilbarchan, 2:07.80) and Jenny Tan (Edinburgh, 2:10.48) qualified for the women's 800m semis.
Mark Dry, who gave up a flying career for the hammer, was below his best and finished fifth with 67.69m.
