EILIDH DOYLE remained on track for a second individual European indoor medal until the platelets shifted in the semi-finals of the 400 metres and the earth swallowed her whole.
Expected to be scrapping for the podium in this evening’s final, the Scot was overhauled in the closing strides and was relegated to third place, out of the competition.
As disappointments go, this was among the harshest of the 30-year-old’s distinguished career. “You never expect anything but you know you have a chance,” she said.
“I knew I had a chance. I was just as good as anybody else. So to go out and not make the final is gutting.”
Team-mate Laviai Nielsen did progress in second place in her semi, with her twin sister Lina forced to scratch due to injury.
At least Doyle has one more opportunity knocking in tomorrow’s 4x400 relay final but it will require a reset after the way she was hunted down by habitual Czech hurdles rival Zuzana Hejnova and Poland’s Malgorzata Holub.
“I was going out hard but I ended up dying on the home straight,” the Olympic bronze medallist admitted.
“The way I was running, I knew there were people behind me so I was trying to get to the line as quickly as possible. I knew Hejnova was there and I was trying to beat her so I’d get a good lane. But I’m about I’m absolutely gutted to get caught out by the Polish girl as well.”
Similarly deflated was Guy Learmonth who exited the 800 metres in the first round when he had come to Serbia believing a medal could be his. The Borderer seized the initiative by bolting to the front but when the race was ultimately transformed into a mass sprint to the line, he regressed to fifth and took his leave as Adam Kszczot passed the initial barrier in the way of a third consecutive title.
“I wanted so much more,” Learmonth said. “I came into these championships ranked fifth and it was all really close, bar Kszczot. So I’m absolutely devastated it’s ended like that. I’ve only got myself to blame but I’ve come back from worse.”
Elsewhere today, Allan Smith will go in the qualifying round of the high jump with the British champion bidding to improve on two years ago in Prague when he came a lowly 21st following a clearance of just 2.19 metres.
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