Cleckheaton hammer thrower Sarah Holt has not given up hope of making the Great Britain Olympic squad.

She retained her England Athletics Closed Championships title in Birmingham with a lifetime best throw of 68.50 metres.

It bettered the qualification mark for the European Championships in Helsinki on June 27 and was just 50cm short of the Olympic B standard.

Holt – who will carry the Olympic torch in Batley on Monday, June 25 – said: “It was an important championship for me as it was an Olympic qualification event.

“My aspiration has always been to compete in the Olympic Games and I’m a little bit closer now, so hopefully I’ll get to that standard.”

Holt has now improved on her personal best in each of the last ten years, which she puts down to a tried and trusted mental approach and training method.

She explained: “Each year I break it down to each month, each week, each day and each session and try and do a little bit better than the one before. At the end of the year, those sessions add up.”

On the successful defence of her title, Holt said: “I had a really good winter but I’m frustrated with the fact I’ve not thrown this far earlier.

“For me it’s more about consistency but I’m really happy with the win as well.”