Triple jumper Nathan Douglas’s hopes of qualifying for next month’s World Indoor Champion-ships in Poland were dashed after he could finish only fourth at Sheffield.

The Oxford City star’s best effort on Saturday saw him post 16.27 metres, which left him well short of the 17m qualifying mark.

Birchfield’s Julian Reid struck gold with 16.87, followed by the Shaftesbury duo of Nathan Fox (16.37) and Daniel Lewis (16.31).

Douglas’s cause wasn’t helped by three no-jumps.

The 31-year-old, who has won silver medals in European outdoor and indoor championships, admitted to feeling ‘rusty’ in his first competition of the year.

“We hoped that I could pull it off and jump 17 metres to qualify for the World Indoor Championships, but I couldn’t get my rhythm together,” he said.

“To start with two fouls wasn’t the best.

“Then I had to get one in, so I was effectively starting in round four.

“For what it’s worth, I think my first no-jump would have been 16.50 metres.”

With no high-level triple jump competitions in Europe before the Great Britain team to go to Sopot is chosen next Monday, it was Douglas’s only chance to get the qualifying mark.

Meanwhile, Hannah England was listed to run the 3000m, which she won in 2012, but withdrew with a cold. The Oxford City runner tweeted: “Gutted to be missing the 3k today, I’ve been battling a cold this week.”