Javelin star George Davies launches career into orbit at British Championships

The javelin thrower, who won silver at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year, competed at the British Athletics Championships for a first time.

Davies threw a best distance of 65.98 metres in front of more than 10,000 people and he sat in second place up until the end of the third round.

However, the 18-year-old was unable to extend the distance past in the closing three rounds and he eventually dropped down to seventh place.

Dad Ian Davies said: “He didn’t expect to make the cut but was second until the third round. It was a great experience for him.

Davies had set a personal best of 66.09m at the England U20 Championships a week before competing in Birmingham.

Off the back of his lifetime best performance, the rising star has been given an opportunity to learn from ex-world champion Kimmo Kinnunen on an exchange trip to Norway where he will compete this weekend.

His next major tournament is the UK and England Athletics senior AAA Championships in Bedford next month.

The national championships doubled up as the Olympic Trials for the Great British squad and featured the fastest 100m in the history of the event.

James Dasaolu roared to the British title in 9.93sec ahead of James Ellington (9.96s) and CJ Ujah (9.97s).

Dasaolu and Ellington secured their Olympic berths while Ujah is likely to join the pair in the selector’s third discretionary place.

Meanwhile,Davies’ City of York teammate Scott Lincoln won gold for a second year running in the shot put.

North Yorkshire shot putter launched the putt out to a distance of 19.03m to win by more than a metre.

The winning distance was short of the required Olympic qualifying standard of 20.45m although Lincoln still harbours hope of being granted a place in the squad for the European Championships in Amsterdam.

For that dream to come true, the 23-year-old must throw a over 20m for a first time in his career before the selection deadline.

Lincoln, who also won the British indoor title in February, said: “I still have a long way to go on to the world stage but I believe it’s in me. If not this year, then certainly in the future.

“I am pretty close to qualifying for the Europeans this year, within half a metre or so.

“Whether time runs out before I get it, I don’t know.”