Gianni Frankis set for tilt at European Championship glory (From Southend Standard)

Gianni Frankis set for tilt at European Championship glory

10:00am Saturday 30th June 2012 in Sport By Ryan Goad

GIANNI Frankis begins his quest for European Championships glory tomorrow.

The 24-year-old admitted the championships were not high on his list of priorities at the start of the year, with the Olympic Games his number one target.

But injury has cruelly riddled Frankis’ season and the 110m hurdler, from Pitsea, admitted defeat in his bid to make London 2012 after last weekend’s trials.

“Of course, I didn’t want the European’s at the start of the season,” said the former King John School pupil. “But considering what has happened injury wise, it’s a good consolation.”

Frankis’ heat at the championships, in Helsinki, is at 1.45pm UK time on Saturday, with the final, should he make it, at 6.10pm on Sunday.

Meanwhile Jessica Judd’s bid for an Olympic place also looks to have stalled.

The Canvey 17-year-old finished third in the 800m at last weekend’s Olympic trials and had been hoping to find a fast race abroad where she could try for the A-standard qualifying time. But she has been frustrated in that search for a race.

The frustration will have mounted after Jenny Meadows – a rival for an 800m spot at the Games – pulled out of the European Championships with an injury, without even stepping on to the track.

That meant the GB team did not fill its full quota of 800m runners at the championships.