GLASGOW A finalist at the world championships, Zoe Buckman was knocked out of the Commonwealth Games in the first round on Monday after her appeal against interference in the 1500m was dismissed.
Grabbed by the arm and almost knocked off the track at the final bell, Buckman lodged an official appeal against the result after she had wilted in the last lap and missed qualification.
A finalist in Moscow last year at the world championships Buckman led the race throughout but a tangle at the final bell with Kenya's Selah Busienei saw her grabbed by the arm and stumble.
Busienei went on to qualify after running a personal best time, while Buckman faded to run a disappointing 4 mins 11.56, four seconds slower than her season's best.
A jury of officials took half an hour to reject her appeal.
"I'm really disappointed," she said after her run. "Another runner was grabbing one of my arms, there was definitely some bad luck involved but that's what championship running is.
"I probably lost a bit of momentum, I couldn't maintain my rhythm."
Buckman had controlled the pace of the race throughout, leading from the front after watching the sharp pace of the first heat, but she felt that the decision to be the frontrunner had cost her.
“I should have sat back and run it like a normal race," she said.
Two other Australians, Melissa Duncan and Kaila McKnight, both advanced to the final as non-automatic qualifiers whose times from the first round were quick enough to go through.
“I was pretty happy with running a 4.06, my PB is 4.05 and Melissa Duncan ran a PB (4.05.76s),” McKnight said.
“I have run world champs and Olympics semi finals and only had to run 4.08 from the front to get through so I am quite shocked that the Canadian took it out to be honest.
“I didn’t expect to run that fast (to get through to the final) but I was ready to do anything I needed to do to get through.”
Steve Solomon had not raced in months as he managed a back-related injury so he was comfortable with the way he ran to get through to the semi-finals in the 400m.
“I was just knocking out the rust so to speak and I’ll come back tomorrow firing,” Solomon said.
“I think I will have a whole new tank tomorrow, when you haven’t raced in a while that first one back is always a little bit rusty but I was able to get through as a qualifier and do exactly what I need to do.
“I think I just need to get out a touch harder at the top end and once I get to the home straight I know what to do.”
Brandon Starc made harder work of his task. Twice he waited until his third attempt to clear a height.
First he mucked up his first two attempts at 2.16m then cleared it on his third attempt by a handsome margin. A similar thing happened at 2.20m: he missed his first two jumps then when it was all on the line he cleared his final attempt fairly comfortably.
Thirteen jumpers cleared 2.20m and Starc was ranked 13th. The automatic qualifying height was 2.23m so rather than put all jumpers through another round in order to eliminate one athlete, 13 were allowed to advance.
“I definitely did it the hard way, but I am just glad I got through,” said Starc. “Third attempt specialist I guess. I am looking forward to the final …I am in PB shape. If I get it right I definitely think I can get up there but we will wait and see I guess.
