Belgrave Harriers star Samson Oni is confident he will get the nod for next month’s IAAF World Championships, writes Ziad Chaudry.
The 28-year-old Brixton high jumper posted a poor 2.20m at Saturday’s Aviva London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace, well short of the 2.32m A World Championship qualifying standard, but has already achieved the B mark of 2.29m, in Glasgow in January.
“I’ve got the B standard during the qualifying period, and I came runner-up in the world trials so that should be enough to get in the championships,” said Oni, a former Brixton Topcats 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 the Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Baba with 2.33m.
Birchfield Harriers ace Tom Parsons achieved 2.24m but is unlikely to be in the GB team after failing to achieve both the A and B standards.
“It’s a choice between me and Tom Parsons but, because he hasn’t achieved any of the standards, technically they should pick me,” said Oni.
“I truly believe if you are going to pick one B standard 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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