Belgrave Harriers Samson Oni is confident he will get the nod for next month’s IAAF World Championships.
The 28-year-old high jumper posted a poor 2.20m at Saturday’s Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, well short of the 2.32m A qualifying standard, but has already achieved the B mark of 2.29m in Glasgow in January: “I have got the B standard during the qualifying period – also, I came runner-up in the world trials so that should be enough to get in the world championships,” said Oni, a former Brixton Topcat basketball player and Southwark Council employee.
Fellow Brit, Olympic silver medallist Germaine Mason, who has already booked his place in Berlin next month, produced a season’s best of 2.31m in an event won by Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Baba with 2.33m.
Birchfield Harriers Tom Parsons achieved 2.24m but is unlikely to be in the GB team after failing to achieve the A and B standards.
“It’s a choice between me and Tom Parsons but because he hasn’t achieved any of the standards so technically they should pick me,” continued Oni.
“I truly believe if you are going to pick one B standards athlete, then I’m certainly the person to be picked.
“I hope the selectors will come to their senses and see that.”
Also at the same meeting Oni’s Belgrave Harriers team-mate Phillips Idowu posted 17.16m to finish third in the men’s triple jump. USA’s Brandon Roulhac won in 17.33m.
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