Susanthika Jayasinghe admits she could have run better, but still enters world championship finals

Short of her best, still among world's best

Susanthika Jayasinghe admits she could have run better, but still enters world championship finals
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Channaka de Silva reporting from Osaka, Japan

Susanthika Jayasinghe failed to match her brilliance of the previous day in semi final run which even in her eyes was not convincing, but still pulled off a coup by entering the final of the women's 200 metres of athletics world championships, here at Nagai stadium last night. Sri Lanka's only hope at the world level, Jayasinghe who produced flashes of her former brilliance of the glory days when she won an Olympic medal and a world championship medal in the first round and then in the quarter finals clocking 22.55 seconds, failed to match that form yesterday but finished her semi final in third place in 22.66 to secure a place among the final eight.

"I have to agree, I couldn't run well. It just didn't happen" Jayasinghe said after the race in which she ran well in customary fashion round the bend, but slowed down dramatically down the final stretch allowing the others to catch up on her.

"But I am thrilled. This still proves I am still among the best eight runners in the world. Getting into the final is also a big thing" Jayasinghe said and revealed that she had almost given hopes on salvaging her career till about a month ago.

"I lack practice. I was disappointed and was not doing world class training, as there was hardly any motivation" Jayasinghe said adding that it was finally someone in a seat of power who helped her quest.

"I started dong serious work only after the Minister pushed me, giving the full backing. Because of that support, I felt I am still appreciated. Had I been in training for any longer, I am confident I would have done much better" said Jayasinghe who was flown to United States for training just a month ago, after minister Gamini Lokuge intervened and provided her state support, when she was idling in Sri Lanka.

Jayasinghe however was still not confident to predict any medals. "There are so many brilliant girls out there. So, it is difficult to say anything about my medal chances. Whatever happens, we have to accept what God gives us," Jayasinghe said with a smile adding "With the work I have put in, I am happy I have come this far".

Jayasinghe will run the final today at 5.45 p.m. Sri Lanka time, and along with her in the final will be a formidable set of runners including four Americans.

Jayasinghe will run in a fairly disadvantageous lane seven where she wouldn't be able to see the other top runners in the middle lanes till she comes round the bend, but having produced goods in the first two rounds from lane eight and seven, she will be in familiar territory.

Defending champion and hot favourite Allyson Felix will be in lane four surrounded by newly crowned 100 metres world champion Veronica Campbell on lane five and another Jamaican Aleen Bailey on lane three.

Two Americans - 2003 world champion Torri Edwards will be on lane three while 2005 world 400 metre champion and last year's athlete of the year Sanya Richards will be on lane six. In lane two will be Cydonie Mothersill of Cayman Islands while another American LaShauntea Moore will be on lane eight.

The key today will be Jayasinghe's start and the run through the final stretch, as she has been struggling off the blocks ever since her nightmarish disqualification in the 100m quarter final, on which she had pinned a lot of hopes. Even yesterday Jayasinghe was the slowest off the blocks, requiring a whopping .209 seconds to react to the gun, evidently the disqualification though a false start still haunting her. But her biggest worry would be the failure to accelerate as she wiched down the final stretch.

Jayasinghe ran on lane four yesterday, while Richards who ran on lane six won in 22.50 ahead of Jamaica's Bailey who clocked 22.65 and Jayasinghe. Moore, who finished in 22.73 was fourth and also qualified.

In the other semi final which was much faster Felix produced a relaxed run,but still cocked a brilliant 22.21, while Campbell was second in 22.44. Edwards finished third in 22.51 while Mothersill grabbed the fourth to get the final slot in 22.78.

A little later the hot American Tyson Gay completed the sprint double adding the 200m title to his 100m title won earlier. Gay flew home in 19.76 seconds to set a new world championship record while Jamaican Usain Boly clinched the silver in 19.91 ahead of another American Wallace Spearmon who won the bronze in 20.05.