Harry Aikines-Aryeetey felt he missed a golden chance to break the magical sub-10 second mark and be grouped with the UK’s fastest.

The 25-year-old Sutton & District athlete was competing at the AA Drink FBK Games in Holland last Sunday when he equalled his personal best of 10.08 seconds to finish fifth in the men’s 100m final.

The title went to Richard Thompson from Trinidad & Tobago, who lowered the meeting record with 9.95secs, while second placed Chijindu Ujah became the third fastest ever Brit with his 9.96 effort.

But Aikines-Aryeetey, the current British number four 100m runner, was left kicking himself and felt aggrieved at not getting one of the middle lanes in the final.

He said: “I got messed about with my lanes. I won my heat so I should have been next to Richard Thompson and Chijindu Ujah.

“It was a competitive race. Thompson ran 9.95 so he’s taken the light. It’s frustrating because running that fast I could not get into sub 10.

“This is business now. You’ve got Chijindu who done 9.96, Dwain Chambers and Adam Gemili, but it’s frustrating because I know I could have been in that mix.

“Hengelo is a perfect place to come. The track is really fast, it’s great conditions if it’s really sunny. But it’s frustrating because I could have squeezed at the last few metres.

“But despite all that my sprinting is good, I’m competitive and in great shape.

“I’m ready to go and this will be my year.”