RYEDALE star Richard Buck could be at a career crossroads after missing out on a place in the Great Britain 4x400 metres relay squad for next month’s World Championships in Moscow.

The 26-year-old former Pickering schoolboy has won six relay medals at major championships indoors and outdoors, but was overlooked for the Worlds after failing to impress in the Sainbury’s British Championships in Birmingham at the weekend.

Buck, who went into the three-day championships ranked fifth in the UK over one lap in 2013, finished last in the final which was won by Nigel Levine, who was named as Britain’s sole representative in the individual 400m. Levine clocked a season’s best 45.23 seconds – just inside the World Championship ‘A’ qualifying standard – while Buck trailed home in 46.30.

Britain’s seven-strong relay squad is Michael Bingham, Jamie Bowie, Luke Lennon Ford, Levine, Martyn Rooney, Conrad Williams and Delano Williams.

City of York Athletic Club runner Buck had admitted after Sunday’s showing that his immediate plans for the year were up in the air.

He never quite looked right at the Alexander Stadium as he progressed out of his heats second quickest and then scraped into the final as the last fastest loser in the semi-finals.

Buck’s place in the relay party had looked uncertain before yesterday’s team announcement, even though seven runners were named in the squad and Buck lies fifth in the national rankings. One of the seven, Delano Williams, who is from the Turks and Caicos Islands but now qualifies for GB, is a 200-metre runner and is likely to be only a back-up for the relay squad.

Buck will now see what his race options are. “I haven’t got a single race confirmed yet but I think there are some options,” he said.

“I just wanted to get the Championships done before looking at them. I left it late again, it has been a consistent problem this year and it is something that I haven’t quite managed to sort.

“It is frustrating because I feel there is a little bit more there and I am struggling to get it out at the moment. It is athletics, it is cruel sometimes, it plays tricks on you.

“You think you know what you are doing and it says, ‘not this year, we are going to do it a little differently’ – that is just the way it has gone.”

Buck set a personal best of 45.61 in Geneva last year but the quickest he has gone this season is 45.88 at the same meeting at the start of June.

The sprinter will now trawl through footage of his races at the Alexander Stadium trying to find the answers to his problems.

“I will have to see how that was and look at how we can move it forward and get back on track,” he added. “Of course I will review my races, every race gives you more information that you can use to come back and build on.

“I am definitely disappointed because the race didn't go the way I hoped but I don't think it is a million miles away.”

Sainsbury’s British Championships is the second event in the Sainsbury’s Summer Series. For more information on Sainsbury’s support of athletics and disability sport go to: www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/occasions/anniversary-games/