Will Sanders' 2012 dream have a Finnish end (From Bucks Free Press)

Amersham star goes to European Champs with it all to do

9:36am Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Latest News By Alan Feldberg

AMERSHAM’S Nicola Sanders goes to Finland tomorrow knowing she has one final chance to make the Olympic A standard, after failing to do it at the UK Trials at the weekend.

Sanders headed to Birmingham for the Trials with it all to do to book an Olympic 400m place.

She needed not only a top-two finish but also to improve her season’s best to the Olympic A standard of 51.55seconds or better.

And despite her best efforts it was just too big an ask for Sanders, who turned 30 on the opening day of the trials, as she finished fifth in a time of 53.37.

After finishing first and second respectively, Christine Ohuruogu and Shana Cox secured themselves London 2012 berths, having already ran the required A standard.

But, with one more individual spot up for grabs, Sanders hasn’t given up hope, turning her attentions to this week’s European Championships as her very own second chance saloon.

“It is hard to sum up the performance,” said Sanders. “I am pleased enough because my aim for the trials was to do enough to get to the Europeans which I did.

“I have been struggling this year so I kind of need more races and to be honest I thought I would beat Emily Diamond, who finished fourth, but the result didn’t go my way.

“It is OK though, it is not ideal but being realistic about how I have been feeling this year I was just aiming to be running at the Europeans and then try and do the qualifying there.

“Hopefully I can run better there and run in some better conditions because it wasn’t ideal in Birmingham.”

Sanders won’t be alone in searching for an Olympic reprieve in Finland, joined in the 400m by fellow Brits Lee McConnell and Kelly Massey.

But she is adamant she will do whatever it takes to realise her dream of competing at a home Games.

“There isn’t much of a turnaround between the trials and the European Championships but you just have to get on with it,” she added.

“I am really pleased I have this chance to show what I can do and fingers crossed I can give a good account of myself.”

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