• British Championships

Gemili outshone by Talbot in Birmingham

Danny Talbot (right) pipped Adam Gemili to the 200m national title in Birmingham © Getty Images

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Adam Gemili was forced to settle for silver at the British Championships as Danny Talbot edged to victory in the 200 metre final in Birmingham.

Talbot managed to overcome a strong field and difficult conditions at Alexandra Stadium to claim his first UK outdoor title and in the process qualify for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Athletics Championships in Zurich later this summer.

Gemili has impressed in the 100m discipline this season, finishing third in the Diamond League meetings at Rome and Oslo, but it was the European Under-23 silver medallist, Talbot, who took the title with a time of 20.42 seconds.

"I've got a great rivalry with Adam - we are really good friends off the track and it's great when we can race each other," Talbot said.

Gemili, 20, also secures a berth in the Great Britian team for August by virtue of finishing second with James Ellington claiming bronze.

After strolling through the heats on Friday, Hannah England faltered to a third place finish in the women's 1500m final. The 27-year-old was hoping to clinch a fourth national title but was outrun by Laura Weightman and Laura Muir, who are currently third and fourth respectively in the European standings.

There was a seventh 800m crown for Michael Rimmer despite scraping through to the final as the fastest loser from Friday evening's heats while Eden Francis won a shot and discus double ahead of her participation in next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, in the absence of Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, JJ Jegede booked his place in Zurich with a jump of 7.83m.

Sunday, the third day of competition, sees Dwain Chambers hoping to make it five successive 100m titles with the heats taking place tomorrow morning before the final at 4.20pm.

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