KELLY HOLMES shook off recent injury problems to defeat a top-class 1,500m field in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix.

The Sevenoaks athlete, one of Britain’s best hopes for a medal at the World Championships in Paris later this month, produced a strong last lap to win in front of a 18,500 sell-out crowd in 4:10.40,

She followed this up with fourth place in the 800m at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Berlin yesterday in 1:59.68.

Ashford’s Lisa Dobriskey, a winner at the Norwich Union Under-23 International on her home track six days earlier, finished behind Holmes at Crystal Palace in 11th place with 4:15.56.

Steve Backley suffered his first defeat of the season when finishing second to Germany’s Boris Henry in the javelin.

Backley, based in Kent, opened with 81.73m, before posting his best mark of 82.48m with his second attempt.

Although he registered four throws over 80m, he could not match Henry, who threw 85.77m in the third round.

Blackheath & Bromley sprinter Julian Golding was forced to settle for second place behind Christian Malcolm in the 200m.

Golding, the AAAs champion, ran 20.46, but was left in the slipstream of Malcolm, who ran the fastest time by a British athlete this year with 20.25.

Bearsted’s Anthony Whiteman provided a strong British challenge in the 50th Emsley Carr Mile, only to end up trailing home a trio of Kenyans.

The 31-year-old closed on the leaders down the back straight, but the Africans found an extra gear with Paul Korir winning in 3:48.17. Whiteman came home fourth in 3:54.94.

Dartford Harrier James Chatt found the pace of the 400m B race too strong and trailed home in last place.

The 23-year-old Gravesend sprinter was up against a high quality line-up. He was running a tight bend from lane one and clocked 47.79.

Medway & Maidstone’s Jennifer Pereira crossed the line in ninth in the under-20 3,000m in 10:08.50.