Su Bingtian of China walks off the track after the men's 100m heat at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
DOHA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's star sprinter Su Bingtian scraped into the semifinals of men's 100 meters at the 2019 IAAF World Championships here on Friday.
The 30-year old Su clocked 10.21 seconds, missing the top three of his heat and luckily booking a berth for the semifinals as one of the next six fastest sprinters in the first round.
"Actually, my starting and acceleration are still very good, but after 40 meters, I couldn't find the rhythm and the strength. After 40 or 50 meters, I could only follow the others and couldn't make my own strength, " said Su.
The Asian recorder holder is still feeling his way back to top form after a back injury sidelined him for more than two months this season. "I didn't have high-level competitions after my back injury recurred in May," added Su.
Su ran 10.05 seconds at the national trials in Shenyang, quite some distance from his personal best and the Asian record of 9.91 that he twice reached last year.
"The injury really affected me, especially on my rhythm. Even the movements of my body made me felt strange. I tried to get some energy, but always failed," said Su.
Friday's result is obviously not satisfying for Su.
"To tell the truth, I don't think I have the ability to enter the final. If I made it, it will be really a miracle. I hope that before the end of 2019, I can find the best of me, and return to my best form," he said.
