Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah will consider his future after failing to qualify for this year’s Games.
Farah, 38, missed the 10,000m selection time by 19 seconds at a cold and windy British Championships in Manchester.
He needed to go under 27 minutes 28 seconds to make the British team for Tokyo but finished in 27:47.04.
“I don’t know what to think or what’s next. If I can’t compete with the best why bother?” said Farah, who won 5,000m and 10,000m gold in 2012 and 2016.
“There’s no excuse in terms of conditions – it is what it is. I genuinely thought I’d come out here, get the time and then go back to the training camp.
“I’ve had an amazing career. Thinking about it tonight it’s a bit shocking and I don’t really know what to say.
“I’m lucky enough to have so many medals. I’m one of these athletes who, if you can’t compete with the best, why bother?”
Farah’s previous shot at qualifying for the Olympics, after more than three years concentrating on road running, was hampered by a left ankle niggle.
Reports from his high-altitude training camp in France were that his injury had cleared and his form improved since that Birmingham outing.
However, Farah could not maintain the necessary pace set by Australian duo David McNeil and Ryan Gregson.
Once Belgian training partner Bashir Abdi peeled off with nine laps to go, Farah steadily started slipping behind the required time as his stride shortened and a grimace showed on his face.
A socially distanced crowd tried to provide the sort of support that swept Farah to his first Olympic 10,000m title on ‘Super Saturday’ in London nine years ago. But ultimately their standing ovation was for his past glories rather than the prospect of more.
World record holder Joshua Cheptegei and his Ugandan compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, the event’s present and future, will instead be gunning for Farah’s crown in the Olympic final on Friday 30 July.
Marc Scott has already qualified to represent Britain in the event, although he is reportedly suffering with a foot injury.
Asher-Smith eases into Saturday’s semi-finals
Earlier in the day Dina Asher-Smith coasted into Saturday’s 100m semi-finals, winning her heat in 11.28 seconds, faster than any of her domestic rivals could muster. Daryll Neita (11.39 seconds) and Asha Philip (11.59 seconds) were next fastest.
“I want to earn the right to be in the next round, which means running well,” she said.
“I always believed [Tokyo] was going to happen so it’s been quite easy to stay motivated. That goal never changes.”
In the men’s equivalent, Zharnel Hughes qualified fastest in a time of 10.50 seconds with 21-year-old Jona Efoloko (10.53), CJ Ujah (10.56), Reese Prescod and Eugene Amo-Dadzie (both 10.64) also making sure of their place in the next round.
There were some high-profile casualties in the men’s 400m heats, in which Niclas Baker, British silver medallist last year, went fastest.
Rio 2016 finalist Matt Hudson-Smith pulled up with an injury early on in his heat and, without an Olympic qualifying time, will not make the trip to Tokyo.
Two-time European champion Martyn Rooney, 34, trailed home in his heat in 49.38 seconds, giving an emotional on-track interview afterwards that suggested it might be his final race.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jessie Knight, Jessica Turner, Lina Nielsen and Meghan Beesley won their heats to advance to an intriguing final on Saturday.
