Hitchon sets national record on way to fourth in Beijing
BySportsbeat
Published 27/08/2015 at 15:13 GMT
It is usually the most agonising of positions to finish but Sophie Hitchon knows she gave everything she had as she threw two national records to finish fourth at the World Championships in Beijing.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
The hammer thrower qualified for the final in sixth but produced a brilliant performance as she broke the British record with a throw of 73.65m in the third round.
But she wasn't finished there and the 24-year-old went even further with an effort of 73.86m to seal fourth – victory going to Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk with a whopping 80.85m.
However, despite missing out on a medal in the Bird's Nest, Hitchon says she is optimistic for the future after her best performance to date.
"As an athlete it feels hard – because fourth is the agonising place but honestly I couldn't have done anything more," she told British Athletics.
"Two national records, two PBs in one competition – I loved it out there and it bodes well for the future."
"I was in ninth and I could have been caught but I brought it in the third round. I try not to think what the opposition is doing, I try executing my technique.
"If I do that know I am going to throw far and I know that today, I have been training really well and my technique has been there."
There were plenty of strong performances for Great Britain in China with Shelayna Oskan-Clarke winning her 800m heat to qualify for the final and Zharnel Hughes running a personal best of 20.02 to finish fifth in the 200m final.
Hughes was sandwiched between eventual winner Usain Bolt and silver medallist Justin Gatlin but managed to keep his cool as he edged closer to breaking the 20-second barrier.
"Sometimes you don't always get what you want," Hughes said. "I'm not disappointed in myself, I got a PB and made it to the World Championship final, so what more can I ask for?
"It's just that I wish I could have got a medal but I guess it’s not my time just yet."
There was disappointment in the 110m hurdles for Lawrence Clarke who failed to progress into the final while Christine Ohuruogu also struggled and finished eighth in the 400m final.
But Dina-Asher-Smith once again showed why she is one of the brightest talents in British athletics as she qualified fastest for the 200m final with a personal-best time of 22.12.
"I guess when it's sprint racing, you have to look confident, but I was quite nervous," said Asher-Smith.
"I'm quite happy to have won that – racing Jeneba [Tarmoh] and VCB [Veronica Campbell-Brown] are such inspirations to me and Olympic gold medallists countless times.
"Racing them was nerve-wracking, but I'm happy to have remained composed and execute my race."
© Sportsbeat 2015
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