Sanders and Devonish make Olympic team

Nicola Sanders and Marlon Devonish have been selected to represent Team GB at the Beijing Olympics next month.

UK Athletics named the squad on Monday evening, but delayed naming the full line-up for the 100m until the conclusion of Dwain Chambers’ High Court hearing today (Thursday).

Despite withdrawing from the 200m at the weekend’s Olympic qualifiers through illness, Langley-based Devonish was handed a place in the team alongside Christian Malcolm and Alex Nelson.

Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow athlete Sanders did not compete in the qualifiers at Birmingham after already clocking fast enough times earlier in the year to qualify for the 400m and 4x400m relay. The World Championship silver medallist is joined by Lee McConnell and Christine Ohuruogu.

Fellow Thames Valley Athletics Centre athlete Lesley Owusu did not make the squad, while Langley-based sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis misses out through injury.

Marlow’s Hayley Yelling was also unfortunate not to make the grade, but her sister-in-law Liz will compete in the marathon alongside Paula Radcliffe.

The British Olympic Association has until Sunday to finalise the team.

GB squad: MEN - 100m: Simeon Williamson; 200m: Marlon Devonish, Christian Malcolm, Alex Nelson; 400m: Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele; 800m: Michael Rimmer; 1500m: Andy Baddeley, Tom Lancashire; 5000m: Mo Farah; Marathon: Dan Robinson; 110m hurdles: Andy Turner; High jump: Germaine Mason, Tom Parsons; Pole vault: Steve Lewis; Long jump: Greg Rutherford, Chris Tomlinson; Triple jump: Phillips Idowu, Larry Achike, Nathan Douglas; Decathlon: Daniel Awde; 4x100m: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Tyrone Edgar, Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson; 4x400m: Michael Bingham, Richard Buck, Martyn Rooney, Andrew Steele, Rob Tobin.

WOMEN - 100m: Jeanette Kwakye; 200m: Emily Freeman; 400m: Lee McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders; 800m: Marilyn Okoro 1500m: Lisa Dobriskey; 5000m: Jo Pavey; 10000m: Jo Pavey, Kate Reed; 3000m steeplechase: Helen Clitheroe, Barbara Parker; Marathon: Paula Radcliffe, Mara Yamauchi, Liz Yelling; 400m hurdles: Tasha Danvers; Pole vault: Kate Dennison; Long jump: Jade Johnson; Discus: Philippa Roles; Javelin: Goldie Sayers; Heptahlon: Kelly Sotherton; 20k walk: Johanna Jackson; 4x100m: Emma Ania, Montell Douglas, Jeanette Kwayke, Anyika Onuora, Laura Turner; 4x400m: Lee McConnell, Christine Ohuruogu, Nicola Sanders.

- Burnham-based Tim Benjamin has ruled himself out of the Beijing Olympics following a sinus problem.

The 400m sprinter, who trains at Thames Valley Athletics Centre, recently had sinus surgery to cap an injury-plagued pre-season and has taken the decision, assisted by UK Athletics, not to compete at the Games.

The 26-year-old Welsh sprinter, was ranked fourth in the world in 2005, but foot and groin problems have tormented him.

It is a blow to Team GB’s 4x400m medal hopes as well as Benjamin’s individual ambitions after he was a member of the relay team that reached the final in Athens 2004.