Athletics: Kiwi sprinter rapt despite missing 200m final

BERLIN - New Zealand sprinter Monique Williams was ecstatic despite narrowly missing out on qualifying for the final of the women's 200m at the athletics world championships overnight.

She finished third in her semifinal in another New Zealand record of 22.90 seconds but it was not enough to advance.

The top two in each heat and the next two fastest qualifiers move into the final.

Williams set the 12th fastest time overall, 0.26sec outside qualifying.

"At the end, I was like, oh man I just missed out on the final," Williams said.

"But then I was like, hold on a minute. I've achieved more than goal, which was top 16. I'm 12th.

"I don't have any words to explain it. I'm over the moon."

Her semifinal was won by American Muna Lee in 22.30sec, with Jamaica's Simone Facey second in 22.58sec.

Williams admitted to some anxiety before today's race and those nerves were intensified after she was deemed responsible for a false start.

"I think I was a bit eager to get away. It was definitely nerves that made me do that," she said.

However Williams regained her composure in a smooth run and lower the national record she set yesterday in the heats by six one hundredths of a second.

"I had three pretty fast people on the inside of me so I knew if I tried to get away as fast as I could, I'd be in a good position.

"I came home strongly which was good."

Williams won the 200m world university games title in Belgrade last month and will now prepare for next year's Commonwealth Games in India, with her confidence sky high.

And she is already talking like someone not prepared to rest of her laurels.

"Commonwealth Games next year, it's looking good.

"I'd have a pretty good chance of making the final, if not more."

- NZPA