ALEX NELSON won Great Britain’s third medal of the World Junior Championships here yesterday, but it was neither one he expected nor the one he wanted. Originally fourth in the 200 metres, in 21.14sec, Nelson was promoted to third place after the winner, Dmytro Ostrovsky, from Ukraine, was disqualified for running out of his lane.
Nelson’s heart had been set on the 100 metres gold until a hamstring injury disrupted his preparation, forcing him to settle for the 200 metres. When Harry Aikines-Aryeetey took the 100 metres title here on Wednesday, Nelson could not help but be envious. Although he finished as runner-up to Aikines-Aryeetey at the World Youth Championships last year, it was by a slender margin and, during the course of the season, he ran quicker. Nelson’s best of 10.31 is still faster than his British rival’s best.
“I see myself as the No 1 even though he has got the medals because I have run the quickest time,” Nelson said. “I see the 200 metres as my second event. I am sure that, if I had run in the 100, I would have been better placed in that.”