Newham & Essex Beagles James Ellington runs the 200m and sprint relay

Newham athlete fails to qualify in Olympic 200m

Newham & Essex Beagle James Ellington was left distraught after crashing out of the Olympic 200 metre first round with a hugely disappointing performance on Tuesday afternoon.

The 26-year-old, who has a best of 26.52 seconds, didn’t need to reach that sort of time in a race won by 100m finalist Churandy Martina from the Netherlands in 20.58, but could only muster 21.23 to finish back in sixth place and out of the semi-finals.

The Lewisham-born athlete was left apologetic after the race.

“I don’t know what to say. That’s the sloewest race I’ve done all year,” said the Beagle sprinter.

“I felt all right in warm-up, but I came off the bend and I had no gas left. I am just guttted. I just feel like I have taken someone’s place and let the team down.”

Ellington refuted the claim that the pressure of being a GB athlete in the Olympic Stadium got to him.

“I rise to the occasion so I thought I would come here and run a pb in the first round,” he insisted.

“I have no idea what was going on.”