Athletics: Devonish's victory will not guarantee World Cup place

Ten minutes after contributing maximum points to the British Men's European Cup success here on Sunday, the 200 metres winner, Marlon Devonish, was turning his thoughts to the World Cup event which now awaits the team in Madrid.

The International Association of Athletics Federations' quadrennial event will bring together the top two European Cup finishers – Britain's men will be accompanied by Germany – along with representatives from the United States, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Americas, Europe and (in non-scoring mode) the Spanish hosts. A total of $2.4m (£1.7m) prize-money will be apportioned to individuals according to their finish, with $30,000 going to winners and $18,000 to runners-up.

Devonish, who is in the form of his life, wants a piece of the action. And who could blame him? "I can't run slow at the moment,'' he said after winning in 20.27 seconds a week after his commanding victory at the Commonwealth Games trials. "Now I want to represent Great Britain in the World Cup as well.

"I want to go out there and mix it with the best in the world. I was given to understand that athletes competing here had first option to go to Madrid." But Devonish cannot yet bank on taking part in the Spanish showpiece, which takes place on 20 and 21 September.

While his information is not incorrect, attendance here was not the only relevant factor as the UK Performance Director, Max Jones, pointed out. "The policy on World Cup selection was that anyone who made themselves unavailable would not be considered for selection in September. But as everyone did make themselves available we will take the best team, although we will keep in mind who scored points for us this weekend.''

While Devonish, whose time equalled Dwain Chambers' British best of the season, will be prominent in the selectors' minds, along with the other individuals who provided maximum points – Chambers, Daniel Caines, Chris Tomlinson, Colin Jackson and Jonathan Edwards – there is no guarantee of his being selected at the end of a very long season.

"Marlon Devonish might get injured and only be running 21 seconds by the end of the season,'' Jones said. "I think it will be best to see what happens in the European Championships.''

But if Britain's World Cup selection remains uncertain, there is no doubting the surge of confidence that went through the domestic sport as a result of a fourth European Cup win in six years.

The women's achievement in hauling themselves out of the relegation places with inspired displays from Jo Pavey in the 5,000 metres and a 400m relay team lacking both Katharine Merry and Donna Fraser only added to the uplifting atmosphere. After the disappointment of last year's World Championship showing, when Britain's sole rewards were Edwards' gold and Dean Macey's bronze, the timing of this success was ideal with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships coming up in the next six weeks.

"It was a fantastic performance,'' said the UK athletics chief executive, Dave Moorcroft. "Until the last events there was a possibility that the men would only finish third and the women would be relegated. But when these teams come together they can move mountains.''

Inevitably, however, the weekend has thrown up a few injury concerns. Edwards was forced to miss his last triple jump after hurting his right foot, but reported himself "OK'' after treatment. Sprinters Jason Gardiner and Mark Lewis Francis are both reported to be suffering hamstring problems, while Carl Myerscough, forced to scratch from the discus with a pulled chest muscle, also needs to regain full fitness as the sharp end of the season approaches.