JESSICA Judd admitted she was gutted she could not give her grandad some 88th birthday cheer by winning a medal in the 800m at the British Championships yesterday.

The 19-year-old from Canvey said she gave it all she could but did not have the legs in the final 100m as she finished fourth in 2m 2.73s.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” said Judd. “I really wanted to run well at the nationals because I haven’t done well in the past. It was my grandad’s 88th birthday too and I really wanted to do well for him.

“But I just don’t know what happened, I will have to watch it back. I didn’t feel great in my heat on Saturday and I was hoping I’d feel better in the final, but it didn’t happen.

“I just didn’t have the legs in the final 100m. It was all I could do just to get to the finish line. My legs were sinking.”

The race was won by Lynsey Sharp in 2m 01.40s, who proved to be strongest in the home straight. The victory booked Sharp’s place in the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Zurich in August.

Judd, who will run for England at the Commonwealth Games, is the only other GB athlete with the qualifying time for the European Championships.

But she will now have to wait to see if the selectors decide to take her to Switzerland.

“I’m disappointed, I really wanted to go to the Europeans,” said Judd. “But to be honest, off the back of that, I don’t think I deserve to book my place. But I know I’m better than that.

“But I will come back, I always do. I will go away and work harder in training.

“I’ve got the Commonwealth Games in the summer which is the next big thing for me. I’m just trying to stay injury free and keep training well and hopefully execute another PB race there."