Our London 2012 feature continues, with our thanks to Team GB ans the Press Association. Report and pictures provided in full from www.teamgb.comRobbie Grabarz has provided the top performance from a British perspective at the Diamond League meeting in Rome, winning the high jump with a new personal best of 2.33m which takes him top of the world rankings in 2012.
Grabarz lost his lottery funding at the end of a poor season in 2011, but rededicated himself to the sport and it paid dividends as he cleared each height at the first attempt until failing to clear 2.35m.
"I achieved what I set out to achieve," the 24-year-old said. "I have been jumping very well in training but been trying to keep a lid on it. That's why I started my season so late."
Greg Rutherford also claimed victory in the long jump, producing a leap of 8.32m in the final round to finish just 3cm down on the British record he equalled earlier this year.
But Dwain Chambers had to settle for second place on his first appearance in a British relay team since 2006, running a solid first leg but then seeing team-mates Harry-Aikines Aryeetey, James Ellington and Leevan Yearwood unable to hold off Canada on the line.
Elsewhere there was worrying injury news for a number of British athletes with Dai Greene and Perri Shakes-Drayton pulling out of their 400m hurdles races with a virus and hamstring strain respectively, while world indoor champion Yamile Aldama suffered a shoulder injury in the triple jump.
Aldama, 39, landed awkwardly in the pit after jumping 14.65m in the second round - her longest outdoors for six years - and passed the rest of her four jumps. She will have a scan on the injury in London.
There was better news for Goldie Sayers in the javelin, who overcame a bout of food poisoning to throw 64.73m, her longest since a personal best of 65.75m saw her finish fourth in the Beijing Olympics.
"I'm pleased with that. I knew I only had one or two throws in me," the 29-year-old said. "I was quite ill on Monday with food poisoning so I'm pleased with a season's best at this stage... On Monday and Tuesday I wasn't sure if I would travel but I actually had food poisoning before Beijing so I knew I was capable of feeling better."
Jo Pavey was only 10th in the 5,000m, some 34 seconds behind the winner, but did achieve the Olympic 'A' standard, while Emma Jackson was 10th in the 800m and Steph Twell 12th in the 1,500m. Tiffany Porter was sixth in the 100m hurdles and Andrew Osagie third in the 800m 1:44.71, just outside his personal best.
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