Holmes goes for double qualification

Athletics

Kelly Holmes will race both the 800 and 1500 metres at this weekend's British Championships in Birmingham, which double up as a trial for next month's World Championships.

Holmes, fastest in the world this year over 1500m, will focus on the longer distance in Athens and will make the decision on whether to race the 800m midway through the championships.

"Providing I qualify I will enter both events," Holmes said. "My focus is on the 1500m because that's where I feel I'm running better this year. I'll make the decision on the 800m depending on how I feel in Athens."

Qualification should be a mere formality for Holmes, who retired her Army commission to concentrate full time on athletics. She could easily have neglected to run in Birmingham, assured of the British Athletic Federation's discretionary selection but decided it would be best to compete. "If I was fit there was never any question of me not competing," Holmes stressed.