"I'M happy now" said a relieved Christian Malcolm after hearing he was being given a 200m berth in the British team for next month's European championships in Munich.

The 22-year-old had been under some pressure and his place for the championships far from assured after finishing third in the 200m final of the European trials held at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, last weekend.

But although Dwain Chambers has run faster this season over 200m, the British selectors chose to limit him to a 100m place for Munich, allowing Malcolm, the world and European indoor silver medallist, to take one of the three available 200m places in Munich.

The Newport sprinter said: "I can't complain, I've done what I had to do and I have got two weeks now to prepare for the Commonwealth Games and the European championships. I'm happy the pressure is off my shoulders, I'm starting to really enjoy the build up to Manchester now, I can't believe it's so close."

But, while Marshfield's Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish are both hitting top form over 200m this season, Malcolm insisted he is not looking at his rivals, just concentrating on what he knows he can do.

"I just keep an eye on myself, regardless if the others are behind or in front of me, I know what I can do. As long as I can get myself in peak shape for the championships, I'll be happy," he said.

At the Welsh Games in Cardiff a week last Monday, Malcolm said he was only 80 per cent fit, but having run 20.29 seconds in Birmingham, his fastest time outside a major championship, he is now on 90 per cent.