BRITISH relay runners have not enjoyed much luck or good press of late.
Whether it is running out of lanes or fumbling batons, these European Championships have provided plenty of material for a case study in how not to do it.
Scots Lee McConnell and Eilidh Child, alongside Nicola Sanders and Shana Cox, did at least complete the distance in their 4x400m final but they were left frustrated with fourth, which rules them out of the Olympics, and also cursing their luck. Track officials didn't help with their disorganised management of the changeover process which left hurdles specialist Child, running the anchor leg, simply too much to do as the Czech Republic claimed bronze, while France took silver and Ukraine gold.
"We could easily have been disqualified, if you look at my changeover," McConnell said. "In all my years of relay racing that was by far the messiest one I have ever been involved in. I didn't enjoy that race at all."
Child was also far from enamoured, although what has been impressive this week is her flat speed ahead of her Olympic debut. "I feel like we were a little bit hard done by. I preferred running lead-off in the semis, it's a lot cleaner," she said.
Great Britain's 4x400m men did win silver in the final race of the championship but the sprint relay quartet of Christian Malcolm, Dwain Chambers, James Ellington and Mark Lewis-Francis did not even last a quarter of the distance. Malcolm took full responsibility as Britain's sprinters again fluffed their lines, dropping the baton in what is becoming an all too familiar story.
Malcolm and Dwain Chambers failed to make the changeover, leaving James Ellington and Mark Lewis-Francis stranded down the track and looking back in disbelief. "It's disappointing, the conditions were perfect and we had great preparation," said Chambers.
Elsewhere, Jo Pavey claims her return to the track has given her a new lease for life and can't wait for her fourth Olympic appearance. Pavey proved the point by claiming 10,000m silver, her first major medal for six years.
"I'm just really thrilled to get a medal and doing track this year has been really fun," she said. "It's made me feel young again."
* Brought to you by SPAR, Official Sponsors of UK Athletics. For information visit www.spar.co.uk
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