Athletics: Stewart's personal best not good enough in 800m

7.30am

ATHENS - New Zealand runner Jason Stewart was torn between a smile and a frown when eliminated from the Olympic Games 800m in Athens tonight.

Stewart, 22, ran a personal best one minute 46.24sec for fifth in his heat.

He was less than two seconds behind world record holder Wilson Kipketer of Denmark, who won the heat in a slick 1min 44.69sec.

Standing on the track, Stewart allowed himself a brief smile when his time flashed up on the huge stadium scoreboard.

He told NZPA he was thrilled have started one lane inside the legendary Kipketer, who is set to retire after the Games.

What caused him to frown was that he had failed in his semifinal quest, even after running a time that would have got him there at past Games.

It was not enough on the slick Athens track in one of the best fields of the Games.

Stewart was on the way home soon after teammate Michael Aish, who was eliminated when 17th in his 5000m heat.

- NZPA