CITY of York Athletics Club ace Richard Buck has been handed a final chance to earn a place in Great Britain’s team for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old 400 metre runner has been picked in the GB team for this week’s European Championships in Helsinki, running in both the individual one-lap race and the 4x400m relay.

The call-up last night gave Buck a lift after he finished fifth in the Aviva 2012 Olympic Trials final in Birmingham yesterday afternoon in a disappointing time of 46.68 seconds.

Final winner Martyn Rooney, who clocked 45.93, and runner-up Conrad Williams, timed at 45.97 seconds, both booked their places in the Olympic squad.

Buck, ranked sixth in the UK this year, is now aiming to join them in the squad.

Buck will take part in the first round of the 400m in Helsinki on Wednesday afternoon, with the aim of booking a place in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

The final will be staged on Friday night.

The relay heats get under way on Saturday night, with the final the closing event on the track on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, Rooney and Williams were among 33 athletes to seal their qualification for London 2012 by achieving the ‘A’ standard and finishing in the top two in their event.

The full list is:

Women – Sophie Hitchon (hammer); Christine Ohuruogu, Shana Cox (400m); Tiffany Porter, Jessica Ennis* (100m hurdles); Shara Proctor (long jump); Goldie Sayers (javelin); Perri Shakes-Drayton, Eilidh Child (400m hurdles); Eilish McColgan (3,000m steeplechase); Laura Weightman (1,500m); Holly Bleasdale, Kate Dennison (pole vault); Jo Pavey (5,000m); Margaret Adeoye, Anyika Onuora (200m). * Ennis will be entered for the hurdles as a back-up to the heptathlon.

Men – Steve Lewis (pole vault); Greg Rutherford (long jump); Dai Greene, Jack Green (400m hurdles); Andy Baddeley, Ross Murray (1,500m); Adam Gemili (100m); Robbie Grabarz (high jump); Nick McCormick (5,000m); Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams (400m); James Ellington, Christian Malcolm (200m); Lawrence Okoye (discus); Andrew Osagie (800m); Andrew Pozzi, Lawrence Clarke (110m hurdles).