Nathan Douglas has urged the Great Bri-tain selectors to pick Hannah England for the London Olympics.
The Oxford City athletes both miss this weekend’s Aviva 2012 Olympic Trials at Birmingham through injuries.
But while Douglas’s setback is almost certain to miss him out of London 2012, England’s Achilles injury should have cleared up to compete – but that only matters if she is selected as the 1,500m ‘wildcard’.
The top two finishers at the trials will earn automatic qualification, but there is a third place available at the discreation of the selectors.
And Douglas says this has to go to England.
“It would be a massive surprise if Hannah isn’t picked,” he said.
“She is one of the top 1,500m runners in the world, and won silver in the World Championships.
“I would think she will be fine – they have to pick her.”
Douglas was returning from more than a year out through injury when he competed in Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo, Holland, on May 27.
But he ruptured a tendon on top of a hamstring to leave his Olympic dreams in tatters.
Ironically, it was the same meeting as England got a running spike on her Achilles, forcing her out of the trials.
“I was stood with Hannah at the end of that meeting,” Douglas said.
“We just looked at each other and it was one of those moments where you’re both thinking ‘what has happened to us”. It was really bad luck for us both.”
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