RICHARD Buck suffered a traumatic day at the European Championships in Helsinki as his chances of reaching London 2012 looked to have gone up in smoke in the 400 metres heats.

After an impressive showing, which saw him win the second heat in 45.83 seconds, the City of York Athletics Club star was disqualified after apparently stepping out of his lane.

However, after a successful appeal to the event organisers, Buck was reinstated into tonight’s semi-finals and his Olympic Games dream remained alive.

Buck had finished a disappointing fifth at the Olympic trials in Birmingham at the weekend and was very much drinking in the last chance saloon in Finland this week, with Martyn Rooney and Conrad Williams having already secured two of the three individual British 400m spots for London.

He was the second fastest qualifier for the semi-finals in Helsinki, though, with Ireland’s Brian Gregan quickest in 45.63 seconds. He remained outside the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying time, however.

Buck said: “I was a bit tired after the trials at the weekend. That was why I had to leave it late to get the win in the race.

“The conditions were perfect. I had two choices really – to try to run a really fast time, or to run it like a Championships.

“The Europeans are a big competition, in any year, so I was treating it like that and looking to do as well as I could.”

Fellow Brit Luke Lennon-Ford was disqualified to end his chances of representing Britain individually at London 2012. But, following his reinstatement, Buck – who remains an outsider for a solo spot in London but in line for a relay berth – was now eyeing a podium place in Helsinki.

“I would really like to get in the final,” he said. “It would be nice to get a medal but realistically this is my first outdoor senior individual spot and I’m happy to be here.

“London is on everyone’s mind, but I need to take the semi-final on merit and not get carried away.”

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