City of Plymouth athlete David King shrugged off a transatlantic overnight flight to run his fastest 60m hurdles time in two years at Lee Valley on Saturday.

King took victory at the British Athletics European Indoor Selection Trials in London with a time of 7.73 seconds, having run 7.79 in the first round.

The Devon hurdler, who has a PB of 7.63 seconds, had only flown back into the UK just hours earlier, ahead of competing at the World Tour event in Spain on Wednesday.

Although his time was 0.08 seconds off the British qualifying time for the European Indoor Championships it did show he is getting back to his best form after spending the last few months training in Phoenix, Arizona.

“I flew in from the US this morning, so I actually arrived at Heathrow at 08.30am,” said King.

“There has been such limited competition opportunity even in America. I just wanted to have the chance to come here and try and run the time. I just needed to prove some form and I’m really happy with the time of 7.73. To run that after that trip, I’m really happy.”

Erme Valley Harriers’ triple jumper Sam Trigg was also in action at the European trials event, finishing third behind Efe Uwaifo and veteran Nathan Douglas.

Enfield & Haringey’s Uwaifo won a leap of 15.99m, with Douglas taking second with 15.65m and Trigg third with a best of 15.42m.

There were two British trial events on Saturday – one at Lee Valley and one in Manchester – while a third will take place at Loughborough on Sunday, but they were only open to government approved ‘elite’ athletes due to the coronavirus pandemic.