OXFORD’S Hannah England hopes her Olympic pain can spur her on to bigger and better things.
The 25-year-old Oxford City athlete missed out on a place in tonight’s 1,500m final after only finishing ninth in her semi.
Afterwards, England admitted the Achilles ‘spike’ injury she suffered in May had proved to big a blow to overcome in time to be a medal contender at London 2012.
Ironically, England suffered the injury while demonstrating some fine early season form at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Holland.
She was spiked at the end of the 1,500m race, which she won in 4mins 4.05secs – her best start to a campaign.
England said: “I would like to think I can use this set-back mentally and physically.
“I think this will set me up for the future.
“But this was the big year to perform, so that is gutting.
“On another day my time may have been good enough to make the final.”
England had lookd good in running 4.05.68 to qualify from her heat on Monday.
But she did not quite have the sharpness to back that up two days later in her semi-final.
And the was probably the key legacy of the Achilles injury that England said she was still feeling every day.
But despite seeing her Olympic dreams ended, world silver medallist England hopes to finish her 2012 season on a positive note.
She said: “If my Achilles holds up from these two races all right, I will definitely try and run some more Diamond League meetings including the Birmingham one.”
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