Heywood distraught as final proves a step too far

KATE HAYWOOD was left in tears after failing to make the 100m breaststroke final.

_{SINKING FEELING: Kate Haywood just falls short in Olympic debut in Beijing}

Haywood paid the price for a poor qualifying time as an outside lane draw left her with too much to do in the semi-finals.

She could only finish 11th quickest qualifier - with only the top eight progressing to tomorrow's final.

It was little consolation that her time of 1.08.36 was four tenths quicker than the performance which earned her a seventh place finish at last year's World Championships in Melbourne.

"I don't know what happened," said a tearful Hayward.

"I didn't feel that great in the heats but I'm very disappointed. This is not what I came for and that's very hard to take."

Hayward will now refocus her sights on the women's medley relay heats on Friday.

"I've got to pick myself up now," she added.

"The medley relay is a really good medal chance for us and that is my focus now."

Haywood - the youngest swimmer to represent England when she featured at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - vowed to bounce back from her Beijing heartache and finish on a high in the Far East.

"The experience I had at the Commonwealth Games has in a way prepared me for the Olympics," she added. "But every experience is good in helping you get used to competitive competition."

JAMES TONEY in Beijing