Cautious Dobriskey plays it safe and stays clear of trouble

By James Toney and Tom Oldfield, Sportsbeat, in Berlin

 LISA Dobriskey stayed clear of trouble and flailing limbs to progress to the semi-finals of the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

RIGHT TACTICS: Lisa Dobriskey stayed out of trouble to advance in the 1500m but both her British team-mates were eliminated (Getty Images for Aviva)

Dobriskey, who was fourth in Beijing 12 months ago but has battled injuries this season, ran a cautious but sensible race as sharp-armed tactics dominated each of this morning's heats, resulting in a number of spills.

In the quickest of the three qualifying races, she moved into position before the final lap, finishing strongly in a time of 4.07.90.

"These races can be so dramatic. There's very little to choose between the top athletes," said Dobriskey.

"I noticed the girl in front of me had fallen but I've been in that position before when you lose a shoe or someone falls and I know it can play with your concentration.

"She didn't clip me - I was able to dodge her and then kick on. It threw me a bit.

"I was really happy with the run, I knew it would be really quick."

However, team-mates Steph Twell and Charlene Thomas both had shockers.

Twell, the world junior champion, admitted she couldn't explain her lacklustre performance as she missed advancing by nearly seven seconds - clocking 4.18.23 -15 seconds outside her season's best from just three weeks ago.

“It’s very difficult to remember the race at this stage. It’s still sinking in that I’m not going through,” she said.

“I’m so bitterly disappointed. I wanted to go some much further here.

“I just didn’t feel right from the start. I felt like I was trying harder to fight for a position than run my own tactics.

“I tried to move forward and maintain my position but the laps were passing without me even realising it. It was all a bit of an elbow fight really. Then approaching the bell the grou p just moved together and I didn’t feel I had the response I normally do.

“I felt good coming here and I can't believe it.”

 

Thomas, the surprise winner of the national championships in Birmingham, missed out after getting involved in an early tangle and running much of the race with only one shoe. The British team are now planning an appeal on her behalf.

"I couldn't believe it," said Thomas

"She went down and I cleared her but my shoe came off. I had to flick it off and then one leg was massively shorter than the other. I was feeling so good."

Elsewhere, Great Britain's Martyn Rooney, Rob Tobin and Michael Bingham all eased through 400m qualifying.

American favourites LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner sauntered around to secure their place without breaking sweat.

"I'm pretty pleased with that run. I didn't have to work too hard from 200m to 300m so there's definitely a lot more to come from me in the next round," said Tobin.

"I know from experience not to look too far ahead at the major events otherwise you lose concentration in the early rounds.

But getting into the final is definitely the aim."

Hungary's Zoltan Kovago was the most impressive qualifier in the men's discus while Croatia's Blanka Vlasic and Germany's world number one Ariane Friedrich both eased through women's high jump qualifying.