Idowu flying high

British Olympic medal hope Phillips Idowu looked in fine form as he took the National Championships triple jump title in Birmingham.

On the final day of the meeting, Idowu looked gold-medal quality while Martyn Rooney maintained his unbeaten run in the 400m and Jade Johnson jumped back into form in the long jump.

Idowu is arguably Great Britain's best hope for gold at the Beijing Olympics and he looked in good touch as he leapt a season's best of 17.58m.

The 29-year-old made just three jumps in the competition and even the shortest of them was ahead of second-placed Larry Achike's best mark.

The current world indoor and Commonwealth Games champion is still unbeaten in competition this season and has vowed to break Jonathan Edwards' world record sooner, rather than later.

"It doesn't matter if I do it before or do it there (Beijing) - I have it in my head to win there," he said. "18.40m is what I consider being capable of if I get my run through right.

"I've got the benefit of knowing of what I have to do."

Malcolm magic

Christiam Malcolm produced a flying last 50 metres to take the 200m title and make the qualifying standard for the Olympics.

Although he ran a poor bend Malcolm showed some of his old flowing running to clock a season's best time of 20.52 in first place.

Rooney maintained his unbeaten run at 400m as he took the national title but he will need to improve his times to be in the shake-up in Beijing.

The 21-year-old came flying out of the blocks through the first 200m but tired slightly in the closing 50, but at that point he had enough in hand to sail over the line.

Rooney said he would have benefited from defending champion Andrew Steele being in the race after he was forced to pull out - knowing that his 45.31 winning time needs to improve for the Olympics.

Johnson jumping

Jade Johnson is heading off to China as she continued her comeback by winning the long jump with a leap of 6.31m, two centremetres ahead of heptathlete Kelly Sotherton.

Johnson jumped beyond the Olympic qualifying standard last month with a personal best distance of 6.81 and now she can look forward to her trip to the Games.

The 28-year-old finished seventh four years ago in Athens but has struggled with injuries ever since and is still only now rebuilding her career.

Jo Pavey was on her own as she galloped away with the women's 5000m contest, leading from the gun to the line in a decent time of 15.12.55 - a new stadium record in Birmingham.

Hayley Yelling bravely ploughed a lone furrow behind Pavey in second place throughout the race, and was rewarded by a season's best time of 15.38.60.

Round-up

Bolton runner Tom Lancashire looked full of promise in the 1500m as he produced a stylish and well thought-out victory in the final.

The 23-year-old tracked front-runner Nick McCormick until blazing a trail for home around the final bend to come home in front ahead of 5000m specialist Mo Farah who found a second wind late on.

Emily Freeman won the 200m final ahead of 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu, who was looking to improve her speed by running half the distance.

A ding-dong battle in the men's high jump went the way of Tom Parsons after he cleared a personal best height of 2.30m.

The height was exactly on the mark for the Olympic qualifying standard as Parsons joined Martyn Bernard and Samson Oni in achieving it this season.

Richard Yates won the men's 400m hurdle final and came home exactly on the Olympic B qualifying standard time of 49.50.