Christine Ohuruogu continued her progress ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games

Despite being disappointed with her time, Newham & Essex Beagles Christine Ohuruogu continued her progress ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games with a 400 metre win in the GB trials and British Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.

The reigning Olympic champion has come back into prominence at just the right time ahead of the Games and won comfortably on Sunday in a time of 51.89 seconds.

And though the time didn’t set the world alight, the 28-year-old was keen to continue her solid progress ahead of the Olympics at Stratford, which is less than a mile from where Ohuruogu was brought up.

“The race was alright. This championship is about putting together the Olympic programme,” she said.

“I am not delighted with the time but it was okay. I have had a hard week, I have been training hard so I was ready to deal with the Olympic programme. I am going to rest for a couple of days now and then get ready for London 2012.”

Fellow Newham & Essex Beagle Steve Lewis was in pole vault action over the weekend and won his event with a leap of 5.50m at the Alexander Stadium.

That was below his outdoor personal best of 5.72m achieved on two separate occasions in California and Ostrava this season, which was enough to secure his spot at the Games.

And the 26-year-old believes he is in good shape heading into the Olympics, keen to avoid a repeat of his 2008 Olympic Games appearance in Beijing, after he failed to register a height.

“I’m absolutely over the moon. I had a job to do today to come here and win and did that so I’m really happy,” said Lewis.

“I’m feeling good, healthy, I’m in shape. I’ve just got to keep plugging away, I’ve got a good July lined up and I will keep building to the Olympics.”

Another Beagle who secured his place in the GB squad was high jumper Robbie Grabarz, who took the win at the weekend after a leap of 2.28m.