Niall Flannery has described his performance as "rubbish" and "appalling" after he failed to make it through the first round of the men's 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow today.
The Team England runner was eliminated from the event after finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 49.97s, just one place shy of making it through to the final as a fastest loser.
Moments after his exit, Sports Mole grabbed a word with the 23-year-old to find out how he felt.
What's the overriding emotion after that race?
"Annoyance, basically. It was a rubbish, rubbish time. I went out there and knew I had to run my own race from lane seven. [I] did that, and then up to push the last 150ish, felt good for about 100m and then after the last hurdle, nothing.
"49.9 is rubbish. I shouldn't have nothing after 49.9. I dunno, it's one of them. The last few races have all been like that. I had to come out and run early season and get a time in, and a few more times in, then running well, then into meetings I wouldn't have thought I'd get in, and winning them.
"Then the last two Diamond Leagues have been rubbish and then this today - appalling really."
What exactly went wrong, was it tactics or did you just run out of steam?
"Tactically was fine. Obviously I don't know until I see specific splits through 200 or whatever and hurdle touchdown times."
In terms of juniors coming through, are the successes of the likes of Adam Gemili and Laura Weightman inspiring for you?
"Definitely. I've been to champs with those two before and come through the ranks with Laura really, from being in the same area of the country and English schools and everything through the years.
"It's inspiring to see her come second last night. I wanted to come out and do a similar job but after today I'm probably out. We'll see. I think one person just has to go for it really. If I'd come third with that time then I might have had a chance."
What do you think you can do differently in the next race?
"God knows. I'll sit down with my coach and see. I don't feel like I've changed anything. I feel like I'm running the same way, I've just got nothing at the end, which is where I was strongest early season. Whether I've raced too much I don't know, but you get in the habit of doing well, and you want to get in the races and beat people."
Flannery's exit from the competition was confirmed when teammate Richard Yates finished third with a faster time in the final heat.
Barney Corkhill
