Pavey runs into contention for Olympics place despite surrendering European title

The 42-year-old mother of two, who was down in 11th at one stage at the Olympic Stadium, dug in over the final two laps to move through the field as her rivals faded and she came home in fifth place in 31 minutes 34.61 seconds.

It meant Pavey surrendered the title she memorably won two years ago, with Yasemin Can winning gold, but of greater importance was the fact her time was inside the Olympic qualifying standard.

Indeed, it was more than 47 seconds quicker than her gold medal-winning run in Zurich, the fastest time by a Briton this year and, perhaps crucially, more than 37 seconds quicker than her rival for the third and final spot on the team for Rio, Kate Avery, has run in 2016.

Dina Asher-Smith lived up to her billing as favourite for 200m gold by storming into the final in a season’s best 22.57s.

Greg Rutherford booked his place in today’s long jump final with a first-round leap of 7.93m.

Elsewhere, Christine Ohuruogu in the women’s 400m, Martyn Rooney in the men’s 400m and Middlesbrough’s Richard Kilty in the 100m all breezed through the opening rounds of their respective events in Holland.