CHRIS TOMLINSON admitted to being ‘overcome with emotion’ as he announced his retirement from top-class athletics at the British Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Tomlinson called time on his 15-year international career after he could only finish fifth in the long jump, a result that means he will not be competing in this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

The 34-year-old Teessider has struggled for both form and fitness this year, and while he has not completely ruled out a farewell appearance before the end of the season, he accepts he is no longer able to compete at the highest level.

His greatest days came when he won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in 2008 and a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2010, and when he finished sixth in the final of the 2012 Olympics in London.

He broke the British record on five separate occasions, with his personal-best leap of 8.35m leaving him second on Britain’s all-time list, behind World and Olympic champion Greg Rutherford.

“I said if I’m not coming out here and jumping 8m – which I haven’t been doing for a few months now – then it would probably be it,” said Tomlinson, who began competing for Middlesbrough AC at the age of ten. “Realistically, this is probably it, which is really quite emotional.

“It’s been a few years – my first GB international was in 2001. I’ve absolutely loved representing my country, and I like to believe that I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve and gone out there and tried my best. I’ve had an incredible journey.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to be coached by some great coaches, and I’ve been in and around those great coaches day in and day out for 15 years. I basically copied a lot of their training models, but I guess the reality is that it’s just not in the body anymore.”

Tomlinson has already set up a series of coaching courses on Teesside, and while he will now take some time to reflect, he expects his future to remain in athletics.

“I’ve got my training qualifications that the sport put me through, and I enjoy going into schools,” he said. “So maybe I’ll do something like that. I might relax for a bit, but I’ll certainly be keeping myself busy. I know if I do get a so-called ‘proper job’, I’ll have to have a haircut and a shave every day!”

While Tomlinson was left disappointed at the British Championships, which doubled up as the Olympic trials, Morpeth Harrier Laura Weightman was able to celebrate a 1,500m place on the British squad for Rio.

Weightman, who made the 1,500m final at the London Games, had to finish in the top two to guarantee Olympic qualification, and her place looked in jeopardy as she headed into the finishing straight.

With Laura Muir having kicked clear, Weightman found herself battling with Charlene Thomas for second spot. She was briefly headed with around 30m to go, but her never-say-die spirit was evident as she dug deep to finish eight hundredths ahead of her rival.

“The goal was to come and get in the top two, and to say I’m going to my second Olympic Games is an absolutely incredible achievement,” said Weightman, who hails from Alnwick. “Me and Laura (Muir) will hopefully go there and perform well for Great Britain. I’m excited for the Championships now.”

Middlesbrough-based Rabah Yousif is also guaranteed an Olympic place after he finished second to Matthew Hudson-Smith in the 400m final.

Yousif, who was born in Sudan and granted British citizenship in 2013, made the final of last year’s World Championships, and he showed signs of rediscovering that form as he posted a season best of 45.52secs to pip Martyn Rooney to an Olympic spot.

City of York shot putter Scott Lincoln retained his British title as he produced a dominant display that saw him finish more than a metre clear of his rivals.

Lincoln, who is from Northallerton, threw 19.03m to underline his domestic superiority, and will hope to be selected in the British Olympic squad that is due to be named in just over a fortnight’s time.

Richard Kilty should be named in the 4x100m relay squad, but the Stockton sprinter is extremely unlikely to secure an individual spot after he could only finish sixth in Saturday’s domestic 100m final.

Kilty finished in 10.05secs in a race that saw James Dasaolu, James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah all break the ten-second barrier. Dasaolu took victory in 9.93secs, with Ellington also guaranteeing Olympic qualification by coming home second in 9.96secs.

Ujah missed out on the top-two spot required for automatic selection, but third place in 9.97s will almost certainly be enough to earn him the final discretionary spot on the team.

“Seven guys on the line had the (Olympic qualifying) standard, so I knew that if I didn’t finish top two, top three, my dream of going to Rio in the 100m was in jeopardy," said Dasaolu. “Top three under ten in the same race bodes well for the relay and for sprinting as a whole.”

If the men’s 100m threw up plenty of positives, the women’s event produced a possible dilemma for the selectors as favourite Desiree Henry could only finish third. Asha Philip took victory in 11.17secs, with 19-year-old Daryll Neita also sealing Olympic qualification with 11.24.