• London 2012 - Athletics

Ohuruogu grabs silver as Shakes-Drayton fires warning

Christine Ohuruogu finished strongly to snatch silver behind Sanya Richards-Ross © PA Photos

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Christine Ohuruogu once again saved her best performance for the Olympic final as she snatched silver in the 400m.

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The defending champion looked to be well out of the medals as she came round the final bend, but produced a scintillating finish to overhaul all but American Sanya Richards-Ross.

Ohuruogu, who has battled with form and injuries since her victory in Beijing four years ago, has peaked at the perfect time, running under 50 seconds for the first time since 2008 as she crossed the line in 49.70 seconds, just two hundredths of a second ahead of DeeDee Trotter in third.

Meanwhile, Perri Shakes-Drayton underlined her status as a genuine medal contender as she strolled into the semi-finals of the women's 400m hurdles.

On her Olympic debut, Shakes-Drayton showed no signs of nerves as she powered to victory in her heat in a time of 54.62. Britain's Eilidh Child also progressed, finishing third in the opening heat in 56.14 seconds.

World indoor champion Yamile Aldama failed to add to Great Britain's medal haul as she finished fifth in the triple jump final. Aldama had been considered a medal contender, but her final round attempt of 14.48m was only good enough for fifth as Ukraine's Olga Rypakova claimed gold.

The British trio of Martyn Rooney, Nigel Levine and Conrad Williams were unable to secure a home favourite in the men's 400m final as Lalonde Gordon progressed as the fastest qualifier. Double amputee Oscar Pistorius also failed to reach the final after finishing last in the second heat in a time of 46.54.

European high jump champion Robbie Grabarz sailed into the final without a single failure, clearing 2.29m to book his place in Tuesday's final, while a best effort of 72.87m was only good enough for 12th for Alex Smith in the men's hammer final, which was won by Hungary's Krisztian Pars (80.59m).

There will be no British representatives in the men's 1500m final after Ross Murray and Andy Baddeley both missed out. Murray finished tenth in his final, while Baddeley put on a late charge, but could only finish eighth.

Earlier in the day, Freya Murray was Britain's top finisher in the women's marathon in a race won by Ethiopia's Tiki Gelana in an Olympic record time of 2:23.07. Murray, a late replacement for the injured Paula Radcliffe, finished 44th in a time of 2:32:14, while Claire Hallisey was 57th and Mara Yamauchi was a non-finisher with a heel injury.

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