Cuddihy joins Bolt in exiting
While it was disastrous for the Jamaican world record holder, it was a disappointment for the Kilkenny woman, who had hoped to build on her performance in Saturday’s heats which saw her finish third in 51.82 secs to qualify automatically for the semis.
“I enjoyed yesterday so much and I got so much positive feedback from home. I ran so well yesterday and, really, I did fell pretty good,” she said. “I was disappointed, not just for myself but for the fans and friends at home and all those who have given me so much support.
“However, for me this was all about the [4 x 400m] relay. I only got into the 400m at the last minute and really I was getting myself back to where I want to be for London [Olympics].
“I think the relay team has a really good chance of qualifying for the Olympics; in fact, there is no good reason why we can’t get into the top 16 in the world, which would qualify us for London.”
She praised Marian Heffernan, who returned to Daegu on Friday after the funeral of her mother-in-law, describing her as “a real inspiration to the rest of the squad”.
On August 12, 2009, just days before the treble Olympic champion, Usain Bolt, repeated his Beijing double at the world championships in Berlin with two new world records, delegates from IAAF Member Federations voted by 97 votes to 55 in favour of a rule that states: “Except in combined events, any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified. In combined events, only one false start per race shall be allowed without disqualification of the athlete(s) responsible for the false start. Any athlete(s) making further false starts in the race shall be disqualified from the race.”
Yesterday in Daegu, the world’s fastest man was disqualified from the 100m final for false starting and could only watch in dismay as his young training partner, Yohan Blake, claimed his title.
A stunned Bolt, who celebrated his 25th birthday on August 21, immediately returned to the warm-up track and, for once, had nothing to say.
“I have nothing to say right now — I need some time,” he said and, when asked about the defence of his 200m title which begins next Friday, he also had little to say.
Blake claimed the title in 9.92secs from the double Olympic bronze medallist, Walter Dix, 10.08secs, and the 2003 world champion, 35-year-old Kim Collins (St Kitt’s and Nevis), third in 10.09 secs.
“I don’t think I can find words to explain it, I feel like I want to cry,” Blake said. “Usain Bolt has been there for me. I felt I would win the race for Bolt.”
“I didn’t really think they were going to kick him out,” Dix said. “How can you kick Usain out of the race?”
“I don’t think it is right,” Collins said. “These things happen, but you have to give people a chance. As much as I want to be on the podium, tonight is a sad night for athletics.”
On Saturday Jason Smyth (City of Derry) had a headwind of -1.7 mps to contend with for his heat of the men’s 100m, resulting in his time of 10.57 secs for fifth place which was outside his personal best, set at 10.22secs this season. The wind was considerably lighter for all the other heats.
Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) was just outside qualification for a place in the final of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase after finishing sixth in her heat in 9:41.17, while Stephanie Reilly (Slí Cualann AC) finished eighth in her heat in 9:55.49.
Yesterday, Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC) made her exit after just one clearance in the women’s pole vault — the opening height of 4.10m — which was well short of her new national record of 4.40m.
Ireland does not have an athlete in action today. Ciaran Ó Lionaird goes in the heats of the men’s 1,500m tomorrow morning while world silver medallist, Olive Loughnane, arrived in Daegu yesterday in advance of the women’s 20k walk on Wednesday.
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