VETERAN Newport sprinter Christian Malcolm rolled back the years in Birmingham at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships after claiming 200m gold.

Malcolm, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury all season, held off the challenge from a star-studded field, including the likes of Marlon Devonish, Mark Lewis-Francis and Leon Baptiste, to win in 20.77 seconds on Sunday.

The 31-year-old, who finished fifth in the 200m at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, failed to earn the qualification mark for next month’s European Championships in Barcelona but his performances in Birmingham will certainly give the selectors food for thought.

“It’s great to win you know,” said Malcolm. “There have been a couple of national titles that I should have got in the past but I didn’t and so it was really nice to get this one.

“I have obviously had my problems with injuries but I know that as long as I am fit I can run well and produce results like this.

“I felt comfortable and good and hopefully now I have done enough to prove to the selectors that I can go to Barcelona.”

It may appear to be a gamble but Malcolm revealed he will not compete again this month in order to chase the qualification mark for Barcelona.

Malcolm, who will skipper Cardiff at the Super8 event on July 7 in Glasgow, has had more than his fair share of injuries in recent years and so the veteran Brit plans to rest up and wait for a call from the selectors to learn his Barcelona fate.

“I am not going to run again and try and get the qualifying time because I have run five times this weekend and it takes ten days or so to get a meeting like this out of your legs,” he added.

“But I really hope the selectors will take me because I am confident if I go there I can come back with a medal.

“I have been unlucky with the Europeans because I have been injured for a couple of them so I would love to get there this year.

“Then it’s going to be a long summer with the Commonwealth Games as well later in the year but all I can do is smile at the minute because I’m delighted.”

Christian Malcolm competed at the Aviva European Trials and UK Championships and was crowned UK champion for the 200m. Aviva has been proud to have been the No 1 sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and is committed to developing the sport at every level, from playground to podium. Find out more at aviva.co.uk/athletics