OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Osagie makes 800m final on mixed night for Team GB

By Ben Burrows, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain’s Andrew Osagie produced a stunning run to beat the odds and qualify for the London 2012 Olympics 800 metres final.

STUNNED: Andrew Osagie crossed the line in second place to secure his spot in the men's 800m final, much to his surprise

The 24-year-old, who was eliminated at the same stage in last year’s World Championships, executed the race of his life to finish fast in 1:44.47 minutes behind red-hot favourite David Rudisha of Kenya.

And the Harlow athlete was delighted to give the capacity crowd inside the Olympic Stadium something to shout about.

“I am so happy,” he said. “When you plan all year for this race and want to get it right and you do, it’s almost disbelief.

“I thought my legs are a bit tired today and in the last 50m luckily my legs were there. I am so, so happy.

“I can’t believe I’ve qualified automatically. I was maybe aiming for a fastest qualifier spot and I wanted to guarantee a place in the top four to give me a chance of getting through.

“But to come second behind David Rudisha is pretty good. Words cannot describe how I feel right now.

“I wanted to give the crowd a bit of a boost after that race. I was the only Brit who got through unfortunately.

“It’s the toughest Olympic 800m there has been for a long time so for me to get in the final and give these Brits a chance to see Team GB run is something I can’t even explain.”

Margaret Adeoye failed to earn her chance for an Olympic 200m medal as Veronica Campbell-Brown blitzed through to win the first semi-final.

The 27-year-old, who is coached by Team GB hero Linford Christie, finished seventh in a time of 23.28 seconds as defending champion Campbell-Brown posted a season’s best of 22.32 secs.

But the Enfield and Haringey athlete was philosophical in defeat admitting that to make the Games in the first place was an achievement in itself.

“To get the trials and make the team already exceeded my expectations for the year, and then, to reach the semi-finals and run against top-of-the-range athletes, is brilliant. I am more than happy," she said.

"This is probably the third most competitive race I've ever been in, I just thought I'd try to go with them.

"It's the crowd, they just pull you along. You come off the bend and you hear this big roar that you don't normally get.

“When you hear that roar, you know you are somewhere (in the race) and that just spurs you on.

"This year I've believed in myself a bit more, I'm almost world class. I'm getting there now."

Campbell-Brown will move through to tomorrow’s final third fastest after Sanya Richards-Ross of the USA won heat three in 22.30 secs.

Abi Oyepitan also missed out on a spot in the Olympic final after finishing in sixth in the third and final heat.

The 32-year-old finished behind 400m champion Richards-Ross in a time of 23.14 secs and admitted retirement may be on the cards.

"My time was rubbish,” she said. “I felt tight at the end. I was disappointed.

"I need to evaluate everything – it's been a hard eight years. But coming here was great, I just wish I'd done better."

Tiffany Porter failed to make it through to the 100m hurdles final after finishing fourth in her semi-final.

The 24-year-old, who claimed silver at the Olympic trials behind golden girl Jessica Ennis, posted a time of 12.79 seconds behind Sally Pearson, who later went on to take gold in an Olympic record of 12.35 secs.

© Sportsbeat 2012