Dwain Chambers kept his Olympic dreams alive by winning the 100 metres at the trials in Birmingham, while teenager Adam Gemili is guaranteed a place in London if he wants it.
Chambers, 34, used all his experience to claim his sixth national title at the Alexander Stadium, clocking 10.25 seconds to edge out Gemili, with James Dasaolu in third.
Only Gemili and Dasaolu had the current 'A' qualifying standard of 10.18secs and could therefore secure their Olympic place by finishing first or second on Saturday, while Chambers now has until July 1 to run the time and confirm his place.
Gemili, who came from nowhere to become the second fastest man in Europe this year when he clocked 10.08s in Germany earlier this month, has always insisted that his main priority is next month's World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
The 18-year-old still plans to compete in Spain from July 10-15 in both the 100m and 200m, but took advantage of an exemption from the junior 100m trials last week to conserve his energy for this weekend.
And that paid dividends for the former footballer who was on the books of Chelsea, Reading and Dagenham and Redbridge until he decided to concentrate on athletics in January.
Asked if he would compete in London, Gemili said: "Of course. Everyone wants to go. I ran the time and I'm in the team. I'm really pleased."
Almost as pleased as Chambers in fact, who celebrated wildly on the track after crossing the line and had to apologise when his foul language was picked up on television coverage.
"I'm just glad to have got that part out the way," said Chambers, who was cleared to run in London earlier this year when the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban for drugs cheats was overturned. That was the most scared I've been in a long time, I didn't even think I was going to finish in the top three, that's how bad it felt.
"I was just glad I beat the young boy. And I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. As an old man you don't want to be beaten by the young boys, that's a sign that you're declining, so I just did my best to win. I think he (Gemili) is going to go really fast."