THERE were no phone calls to Robert Tobin's Old Basing home yesterday telling him to pack his bags for the Olympics.

Instead the 20-year-old Southampton University student found out via the Internet that he had been selected for Britain's 4x400 relay squad for Athens.

It's a dream come true for the Basingstoke & Mid Hants athlete, who needs just one more wish to be granted to make his summer complete - the inclusion of his training partner Melanie Purkiss in the women's one-lap relay.

Five women have already been named - Donna Fraser, Helen Karagouinis, Lee McConnell, Carey Marshall and new AAA champion Christine Ohurougu - potentially leaving just one place to fill.

As things stand it will be a straight showdown between Team Solent's Purkiss and Woodford Green's Catherine Murphy.

With a best this season of 52.46, Murphy ranks higher than Purkiss, but the Otterbourne girl finished a place ahead of her rival (fifth) in Sunday's AAA final at Birmingham.

The selectors are likely to delay their verdict until after the weekend's big permit meeting at Loughborough.

With his Olympic place already in the bag, Tobin has two 200m outings lined up this weekend - at Loughborough on Saturday and in the Golden Jubilee Cup for Basingstoke on Sunday.

News of Tobin's selection was still sinking in yesterday morning. He admitted: "I don't know how to react at the moment. I haven't even told my parents yet. My dad (John) is away working in Germany and my mum (Jackie) is at work.

"No one from UK Athletics has contacted me either, but I'm sure there's a letter on the way!"