• European Athletics Championships

Grabarz & Williams give GB double delight

Robbie Grabarz was victorious in Helsinki © Getty Images

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Team GB athlete Robbie Grabarz emerged victorious in the high jump at the European Championships on Friday, as Rhys Williams effectively booked his Olympic place with victory in the 400m hurdles.

Grabarz, who confirmed his place at London 2012 at the recent UK Trials, defeated Lithuania's Raivydas Stanys on countback in the event at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, after both men cleared 2.31 metres in the final.

Grabarz emerged on top by virtue of needing only one attempt to clear 2.28m, as Stanys needed a second attempt to make the clearance. That left Stanys needing to clear 2.33m in order to win but, after both men failed all three of their attempts, Grabarz was confirmed as the winner.

Grabarz, 24, is coached by Fuzz Ahmed - who was once an actor on popular British soap Eastenders. Grabarz has a personal best of 2.36m.

Williams, meanwhile, was fighting with Nathan Woodward for the third and final Olympic qualifying spot at the meeting in Helsinki - and did so with a victory in a time of 49.33 seconds, another Olympic 'A' standard time.

Woodward, meanwhile, faded to finish seventh in 50.20s - effectively ending his hopes of representing Team GB in Stratford.

Elsewhere, Lynsey Sharp took silver in the women's 800m - but agonisingly failed to achieve the qualifying standard required for an Olympic place.

Needing a time of 1:59.90s to confirm her spot after winning the UK Trials, Sharp set a new personal best of 2:00.52 that was narrowly insufficient.

There was disappointment for another British athlete, however, as Goldie Sayers missed out on a medal in the javelin by just 68 centimetres.

Sayers finished fourth after a throw of 63.01m, shy of Germany's Linda Stahl in third. The event was won by Ukrainian Vira Rebryk - who won with a best attempt of 66.86m.

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