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Srprint hurdler Andy Turner and world 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows have been promoted to the top level of UKA funding.

Turner failed to progress beyond the quarter-final stage at the Beijing Olympics and subsequently saw his national lottery funding taken away for 2009 as, then new, head coach Charles Van Commenee pulled no punches.

Deemed as an unlikely medal hope for August's World Championships, Turner was left out in the cold, but still achieved qualification, only for a hamstring injury to bring his tournament to a premature end.

Turner believes that being stripped of his national lottery funding, approximately £12,000, had caused him to compete more often and aggravate his injury, but insists it served as the wake-up call he needed. "I am delighted to be back on the World Class Performance Programme. Last year was a difficult time for me, but it was something I needed," he said.

"I definitely over-competed last year and that experience and the impact it had injury wise made me realise just what a blessing lottery funding is by allowing us to peak for the big events and perform where it counts.

"I am looking forward to embarking on a winter of tough training and repaying the faith shown in my ability in 2010.

"Obviously I want to peak at the major championships and that will be easier when I can plan my season around the big events rather than competing as much as I can to keep the pennies flowing."

Meadows (pictured) has also been promoted to receive top level funding as a direction result of her bronze medal winning performance in Berlin.

Both Meadows and Turner's inclusion on the World Class Performance Programme come as part of a significant increase in the number of athletes to receive the top level of funding.

This time last year, just 33 we named at podium level, while at this point in the previous Olympic cycle (the end of 2005) there was less than half of the current figure.

Van Commenee's decision to name just 33 athletes last year represented a 20 per cent decrease in those receiving top level financial support with the intention of giving more to less who could challenge for medals at London 2012.

But this time around 42 able-bodied athletes and 15 Paralympic athletes have been chosen at podium level, while 65 have been named at development level.

"I am confident it [the selection process] has produced a crop of athletes who will deliver to the aims of the programme, namely success on the global stage," said van Commenee.

"What is really significant is that the number of podium athletes has increased dramatically, these athletes are put onto this level of funding as a direct result of their performances over the last 18 months, which clearly demonstrates increased levels of world class performance.

"To have such a strong set of athletes on the programme really pays testimony to the depth of talent we have within the UK."

Also promoted to podium level is Will Sharman, who burst onto the scene in the 110m hurdles and finished fourth in Berlin, while 400m hurdler David Greene has also seen his funding increased after reaching the world final.

More than the Games / Eurosport