Bingham blitzes into 400m final; Rooney and Tobin bow out

By Tom Oldfield, Sportsbeat, in Berlin

 MICHAEL Bingham announced himself as a genuine 400m medal contender at the World Championships Athletics with a storming lifetime best in Berlin.

ON FIRE: Michael bingham races into 400m final and announces himself as genuine medal hope (Getty Images for Aviva)

The 23-year-old American-born star has been in superb form in the Olympiastadion and blitzed home in his semi final, crossing the line in 44.74 seconds.

Bingham, at a disadvantage in lane eight, rocked into his stride immediately and cruised home - beaten only by defending champion Jeremy Wariner of the USA.

But while Bingham took to the outside lane like a duck to water, Beijing Olympics finalist Martyn Rooney paid the price for a stop-start season that has seen him compete over 400m just three times before arriving in the German capital.

And after coming home seventh in his heat in a pedestrian 45.98 secs - a full 1.61 slower than Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, who cross the line in the quickest time this year - Rooney admitted he had was no-one but himself to blame.

"It was pretty poor, there are no excuses for that," said Rooney. "I just didn't commit to the race. I hust didn't do it.

"My preparation has not been ideal but I at the end of the day I didn't perform today and that is all that matters.

"You can complain as much as you want but it wasn't good enough. I have to treat this as a stepping stone and come back stronger now."

Meanwhile, the third Brit Rob Tobin suffered a similar fate to Rooney, also finishing seventh in his semi final.

"Let's be honest, that was terrible," admitted Tobin. "I was not in the race at 200m and against these guys there's no coming back from there.

"I just need to put the work in now and make sure I do better next time."

Meanwhile, there was bad news for Sarah Claxton, who failed to qualify from her 100m hurdles semi final that boasted Olympic champion Dawn Harper and Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan.

Harper stormed home in 12.48 seconds - a new personal best, while Claxton was left in the blocks and crossed the line in eighth place.

"It was a bit of a messy," admitted Claxton. "From the start I was left behind a bit and had to get back at them and after that I was out of it.

"I wanted to get a British record and I felt in perfect shape but as soon as the gun went it didn't go right for me."

Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton stormed to victory in her semi final in a new season's best of 12.54 secs, while Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep also took victory in her semi final in 12.60 secs.