TEN years after launching his career, Danny Talbot will make his senior debut on the global stage after being selected to run the 200m at next month’s World Championships in Beijing, WRITES KEVIN FAHEY.

The 24-year-old Trowbridge Tornado may already have the European Championships and Commonwealth Games on his CV, as well as a spot in the relay squad for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but the trip to China will be his first to contest an individual event at the highest level.

“I am just over the moon and haven’t stopped smiling since I got the news,” said Talbot.

“I have never raced on the world stage before in an individual event and this is exactly where I want to be and why I have trained so hard.”

While he fulfilled the initial demand set by the British selectors, by finishing in the top two at the British Championships in Birmingham on July 4, Talbot’s selection was far from clear cut.

He had only once run inside the qualifying time of 20.50 seconds – albeit with a personal best of 20.30 in Switzerland ten days later.

At the London Anniversary Games last Friday, he missed the target as he clocked 20.56 into a headwind and then had to endure a nerve-jangling long weekend, waiting to hear whether he made the cut.

“The GB selection criteria was based on top-eight potential at the Worlds, so on Saturday, I sat down with Dan (coach Dan Cossins) and went through the results of the last eight global competitions – six World Championships and two Olympic Games,” said Talbot.

“On my PB, I would have made the top eight in every one apart from Beijing, so historically there was a good case for me being picked.

“But when it comes to selection, you never know how it might go .”

To back up their argument for selection, Cossins wisely sent the dossier of information to the selectors, who met on Monday, and also stressed that the strategy for the season was for Talbot to peak at Beijing in three weeks’ time.

It wasn’t until Tuesday that Talbot got word he was on the plane.

Talbot added: “I could barely sleep on Monday, when I didn’t hear about the decision, but now I am in.”

“This is the biggest thing ever for me. Now I can’t wait to get there.”

Talbot has been picked alongside Zharnel Hughes as one of Britain’s two 200m representatives whilst the Wiltshire sprint star is also part of the 4x100m relay squad alongside Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, James Ellington, Adam Gemili, Richard Kilty and Chijindu Ujah.