The Ballarat sprinter made the disappointing call to withdraw from the inaugural titles early this week, foregoing his chance at a debut senior appearance in the green and gold.

Bee told The Courier he was “shattered” to have to pull out of the 4x100m event. “I was still trying to train and do everything I could, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. It was too sore,” Bee said.

“Ever since the Sydney Track Classic it has been sore, but it hasn’t been too bad. At Stawell it was pretty bad and then I tried to get it better because I knew I had the Bahamas coming up. I had a bit of a rest after Stawell and then tried to train, but I just couldn’t.

“It just aches. I woke up in the middle of the night and it was aching and I was in a lot of pain so it’s obviously pretty bad.”

Bee said his focus would shift to getting his leg right ahead of a hopeful selection in the Australian Commonwealth Games team to compete in Glasgow later this year.

The team is expected to be announced on June 1.

“I’ll just rehab (my hamstring) and try and get it better and try not to rush it because if I get selected for the Commonwealth Games they still want me to be fit and ready to go over there,” he said.

Bee learned of his selection in the World Track Relay Championships following his efforts in the Stawell Gift, where he reached a semi-final from his backmark of 0.75m.

He is living and training with Olympian and two-time Stawell Gift winner Josh Ross.

Ballarat’s Collis Birmingham will run at this month’s titles after being selected in a combined 4x800m and 4x1500m squad.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au