Comeback kid comes seventh
James Ellington failed to get a medal in last night’s 100m final at the IAAF World Junior Championships, but left the stadium in Grosseto with his head held high.
Ellington finished seventh in 10.56seconds as Ivory Williams and Demi Omole scored a US one-two in 10.29s and 10.31s, ahead of Jamaica’s Renaldo Rose (10.34s).
Just eight weeks ago, Ellington suffered a serious hamstring injury and medical advisers told him he would not be fit enough to make the British side.
But the 18-year-old miraculously made last night’s final after number one Leon Baptiste blew his chances with a poor start in his semi-final.
Drawn in the difficult eighth lane, the Londoner was hampered by a false start and knew a second would see him red-carded and out of his first major international championships.
Ellington said: “I tried to get out of the blocks first but beat the gun. I knew then it would be tough as it is difficult to explode twice.”
