IWAN THOMAS faces a desperate race against time to make next month's World Championships in Canada.

Although Southampton's European and Commonwealth 400 metres champion achieved one half of the qualifying criteria with a top-two finish in the AAA/Trials at Birmingham last night, he has still not run fast enough to guarantee a ticket to Edmonton.

The 27-year-old from Netley, who has missed the last two seasons with injury, fought tooth and nail down the home straight, but he ran out of steam in a head to head with Mark Richardson, who is himself on the comeback trail following the lifting of his doping ban.

Both men were outside the 45.72 second world qualifying standard - Richardson winning in 45.79 seconds and Thomas runner-up in 46 seconds dead.

With only Daniel Caines, a non-starter in the trials, having done the qualifying time, it means Great Britain's selectors may not be able to name anyone for the men's 400m when the first part of the team is unveiled at Eton later today.

Because he missed Birmingham with a bruised fibula, Caines cannot be automatically selected, but the inclusion of the British number one should be a formality when the list is finalised next Monday.

Richardson's ticket also looks assured by virtue of having run the qualifying time last year, which leaves just one probable place available for Thomas if he can duck inside the time in the next six days.

The Norwich Union Grand Prix at Crystal Palace next Sunday could be his last chance saloon, but he may travel overseas to Monaco on Friday night if the Monte Carlo Golden League event includes a 400m.

Feeling mixed emotions after last night's final, Thomas said: "A top-two place is good after all the problems I've had. But I don't like finishing second and it's disappointing not to have got the time.

"Whatever happens, though, I'm not going to chase it. I did that last year for the Olympics and it's the worst thing you can do."

Although accepting that Richardson had deserved his win, Thomas went onto the track clearly smarting at having been drawn three lanes outside his main rival in lane six.

Having posted the fastest semi-final time of 46.33, he felt sure he would be guaranteed lane four or five. He revealed: "I tried to put a complaint in about it, but apparently it's all done by computer. Even so, I feel let down because, in my eyes, I might just as well have finished second in my semi. I gained no advantage by winning it.

"I don't want to make excuses, but I went off a bit too hard because I couldn't see my rivals. It's a race I could have and should have won and, if I'd had a better lane, I might have done.

"One thing is for sure, though, I'm definitely back. Given another three weeks, who knows what I'll be capable of?"

With all eyes on the Richardson v Thomas battle, Team Solent's Pete Brend was overshadowed in his first ever AAA final. He finished seventh in a personal best 47.03sec