By Phil Ravitz TWO East London athletes illustrate the mixture of experience and youth chosen by Team GB selectors for the World Championships in Berlin between August 15-23. Hackney born and raised Phillips Idowu is an obvious choice in the triple jump,

By Phil Ravitz

TWO East London athletes illustrate the mixture of experience and youth chosen by Team GB selectors for the World Championships in Berlin between August 15-23.

Hackney born and raised Phillips Idowu is an obvious choice in the triple jump, having won the Olympic silver medal in Beijing last year. For the athlete educated at Raine's Foundation School, Bethnal Green, this is his umpteenth international call-up.

He will head up a trio of triple jumpers including his closest rivals Nathan Douglas (Oxford) and Larry Achike (Shaftesbury Barnet).

At the other end of the experience scale, 20-year-old Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets AC hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton is chosen to compete in the women's 400m hurdles, just over a week after winning her first major international title.

Perri went to the European under 23 Championships in Lithuania and took the gold in a new personal best time of 55.26 secs, the weekend before last.

She is also included in six girls selected for the 4x400m relay, having come second to Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu in the 400m individual race at the recent AAA Championships. She is selected alongside the likes of London Grand Prix winner Nicola Sanders and the experienced Lee McConnell.

A third athlete from the area, VP&TH sprinter Rikki Fifton is selected among the six man squad to run the 4x100m relay, but is likely to be back-up to the likes of Simeon Williamson, Marlon Devonish and Craig Pickering.

Missing out on selection was another VP&TH sprinter, the 21-year-old Leevan Yearwood. He finished runner-up in Lithuania to Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who does merit selection among the sprint sextet.

Fifton and Yearwood were in the England B relay squad at last week's London Grand Prix, but their quartet failed to finish after a mix-up over a baton change-over.

The World Championships have never been a happy hunting ground for Idowu, now 31, who is the current World Indoor and Commonwealth champion.

He won the World Indoor crown in Valencia, 18 months ago.

Idowu is a long-time member of Shaftesbury Harriers, but began his competitive athletics career, as with most local youngsters, at Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets AC.