Ath: Heartbreak for Arron and Ottey as they miss out on final

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2004
Ath: Heartbreak for Arron and Ottey as they miss out on final

By Pirate Irwin

ATHENS, Aug 21 AFP - Athletics great Merlene Ottey narrowly missed out on a place in
the 100m Olympic final when she was edged out on the line for the fourth and final place
in her semi-final.

The 44-year-old could bow out with her head held high in what was her 50th race over
seven Olympics but for France's Christine Arron there was yet another disappointment as
the 30-year-old trailed home in sixth place.

Ottey was phlegmatic about her narrow miss which she has endured many a time over her
seven Olympics career.

"I am disappointed because I was nearly there but it is how these things work out and
I will be back next year at the world championships," said the Jamaican-born naturalised
Slovenian.

"There's no stress because since Atlanta where I lost the gold medal (in a photo finish
with Devers) I said I was going to enjoy myself."

Arron cut a disconsolate figure as she contemplated another failed campaign and one
she had looked forward to with relish.

"I am really disappointed, something seems to go wrong every time," said Arron, whose
sole individual title remains the 1998 European crown.

"I didn't feel under any particular pressure but in my first or second strides my body
just collapsed."

In the same semi-final, two-time Olympic champion Gail Devers finished a place further back.

Devers will not have endeared herself to her team-mates.

She said she had competed in the event for purely selfish reasons as she bids to win
the elusive 100m hurdles title - she had denied Olympic champion Marion Jones a place
in the team after Torri Edwards two year ban for doping was upheld on appeal.

"I used this to improve my speedwork," said the 37-year-old Devers.

"Now I feel like a 19-year-old bidding to win her first gold medal."

The men had started out on their bid to win the blue riband event a day later than
the women, and there was no room in the semi-finals for veterans Frankie Fredericks and
Ato Boldon.

They were minor medallists in the 1996 Olympic 100m and 200m events, who crashed out
and will never be seen again at an Olympics after winning four minor medals apiece at
the Games.

AFP mo

KEYWORD: OLY ATH OTTEY

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