Foster finishes 7th in World University Final
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An exhausted but exhilarated Amy Foster finished 7th in yesterday's 200 metres final in the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.
Amy's time of 23.58 secs was her joint second fastest ever beaten only by her new NI record of 23.53 secs set in the second round 24 hours earlier.
She confessed that in the biggest race of her career her legs suffered because of the punishing schedule of races which meant she competed 7 times in the space of 4 days. Earlier in her semi- final the Bangor woman was in the dilemma of needing to finish among the top 4 qualifiers for the final while still trying to preserve her strength after 6 arduous races which included the 100 metres event.
However the 22 year old qualified safely with a solid 4th place behind winner Anneisha McLaughlin of Jamaica who broke 23 secs. In the final only 2 hours later McLaughlin dominated the opposition to win in a PB and world class time of 22.54 secs ahead of silver medallist Tiffany Townsend of the US who ran 22.96 secs.
In the home straight Foster defied her exhaustion to finish ahead of Britain's Emily Diamond.
Amy said; "I couldn't have given any more in the final-my legs were wobbly at the end. I am really happy about making a World Championship final and setting a NI record in the heats. It has been my best season ever and I am looking forward to even better things next year".
Foster also paid tribute to the support she has received from the University of Ulster where she is a student. Coach Davy Reid pointed out that Amy reached the final unlike many other sprinters who had much faster times.
Plans for next year are already in train with one eye on London 2012 assuming Amy maintains the huge progress shown this year.
Meanwhile European silver medallist Ciara Mageean will be racing on Saturday over 1,500 metres in the BMC Final in Birmingham. She will face Austria's Jennifer Wenth who was 9th in last year's World Junior 1,500 metres where Ciara took silver.
Newcastle's Kerry Harty will again try to lower her NI steeplechase record of 10.8.84. Stephen Kerr will also be competing. The AAA Championships are taking place this weekend. A small NI team will be competing: U15 Girls Michaela McNally BAAC Ham (3kg) U15 Boys Shane McGowan COD 800m/1500m U17 Girls Anna Barr COD TJ Beth Wilson ND Discus (1kg) U17 Boys Fellan McGuigan Harrow/FV Ham (5kg)
