AFTER a devastating false start alongside six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt on Friday evening, sprinter Richard Kilty was able to leave the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games with a smile on his face.

The 25-year-old, world and European champion over 60m, claimed gold in the 4x100m relay alongside Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Ellington, and Chijindu Ujah.

Kilty was incensed after he was disqualified from his 100m heat the evening before, with his reaction time on the blocks under the limit.

But after bouncing back less than 24 hours later, the Teesside Tornado insists Britain’s top sprinters have laid down the gauntlet ahead of the World Championships next month in Beijing.

“It was amazing to finally get out there and actually finish a race unlike Friday where I was very unlucky,” said Kilty, speaking at the event, a partnership with British Athletics that builds on Sainsbury’s support for the 2012 Paralympics and recognises that sport can unite and inspire children of all ages.

“I definitely didn’t leap before the gun, and who’s to say the human body can’t react below a tenth of a second?

“I have very good reactions and everybody – Bolt included – left with me, nobody could tell it was a false start. So I think they need to lower that margin as it’s massively unfair and what happened to me could happen to anyone.

“But it was amazing to come through and take the win here in the relay, and every time we’re all put together we seem to be getting the victory.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster for the worlds. We’ve been very consistent, so when we get our checkmarks right, we’re all leaving on time and firing, I really think we’ll rise to the occasion and get a medal.

“I’m sure we’ll be in even better shape come the Worlds and our changeovers will be stronger, so it’s looking positive.”

Newton Aycliffe middle-distance runner Kate Avery was also in action, coming home eighth in the women’s 5000m with a time of 15:27.94, while North Shields’ Ross Murray was ninth in the Emsley Carr Mile.

And Niall Flannery surged to third place in the 400m hurdles with a time of 49.53, beating former World and European champion, Dai Greene, still returning from injury, in the process.

But the British Champion was not satisfied with bronze having been hoping to make himself an automatic pick for Beijing, and now faces a nervous wait until the squad is announced next week.

He said: “It was a good race and I was competing against some good guys, but the time’s really frustrating, and I’m a bit pissed off to put it bluntly.

“I had to take it out of the selectors hands, but I haven’t done that with this performance.

“So I’m hoping for a favour from them, as obviously I don’t have the chance to race again before they pick the squad.

“But I am coming into form I feel, and at the right time, and I’ve beaten some good guys in that race so hopefully that goes in my favour.”

Sainsbury's is a proud partner of British Athletics. The partnership reflects Sainsbury's wider commitment to inspiring healthy lifestyles for all, and complements grassroots campaigns such as Active Kids and the Sainsbury's School Games. www.sainsburys.co.uk