Joseph Millar sixth in 200m semi-final at Gold Coast Games

Joseph Millar described it as a funny night as he bowed out of the Commonwealth Games failing to advance to the final of the 200m.

The 25 year old five times New Zealand champion started well but coming off the bend was unable to hold his posture and lost speed at a crucial part of the race.

Requiring to finish in the first two or a time faster than 20.62 Millar was sixth in the third semifinal in 21.01 a slight improvement on his heat time.

Coming into the Games as the 22nd ranked of 70 competitors, his overall placing was 17th.

The London world championships representative said that he buckled coming through the bend.

"I got out of the blocks really well, worked the bend quite well caught the guy on the outside of me about half way through.

"Transitioning into the straight I did something a little funny and lost some speed and I buckled through the core and once you lose posture its very hard regain that speed that youve just lost.

"I did come back a little bit in the home straight, but by that point the damage had been done and thats the nature of sprinting," said Millar.

"Happy to make the semi-final, but was expecting a little bit faster after putting in some effort this time," he added.

A much needed break is on the agenda now.

"Im now looking forward to having a break, I needed the Commonwealth Games and three possible races and then done, Ive missed out on the final, but there is a silver lining in having a break and I cant wait to do it."

Then it will be back to the drawing board for next season.

"I have a brand new team together and we will be working on some stuff. Ive got to be at the world championships again as a new and improved sprinter.

"We have a lot of plans we just need to work out how were going to implement them and Ill be a completely different athlete by the time next summer rolls round," said Miller as he signed out of the Games.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand