• European Athletics Championships

More relay woe for GB as Pavey steals silver

ESPN staff
July 1, 2012
Christian Malcolm and Dwain Chambers failed to exchange the baton © Getty Images
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Great Britain's 4x100 metres relay team followed in the footsteps of their female counterparts by making a hash of the final at the European Championships on Sunday.

While avoiding missing out on London 2012 as a result of their mishap - the punishment that befell the women - the British quartet nevertheless blew a great opportunity for a medal, as lead-off man Christian Malcolm failed to safely get the baton into the hands of Dwain Chambers.

"I will take responsibility," Malcolm said. "I lost momentum and it's my job to get the baton into Dwain and I didn't get it done. It was an opportunity for us all and we have messed up.

"We thought we were going to win and we were all up for it today. It's nothing to do with a lack of practice, it's just one of those things.

"I know we like to play the blame game and I will take responsibility."

There was more positive news elsewhere, however, as both Jo Pavey and the men's 4x400m relay team delivered silver medals on the final day of the meeting.

The relay team led for almost the entire contest before being overhauled by Belgium in the final 200m, while Pavey - who had been angling for a marathon place at London 2012 before being forced to switch her attention back to the track - overhauled Ukraine's Olha Skrypak in the final straight to finish second behind Portugal's Dulce Felix.

"Thrilled to get a medal, it's been fun to do track this year," Pavey said. "It's been a blessing in disguise, because if I had been given a marathon place I wouldn't have been here. As I said, I'm thrilled."

With the meeting concluded, Team GB selectors will now gather to make the final decisions over the squad for this summer's Olympic Games. The Team GB squad is due to be announced on Tuesday, July 3.

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