AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2004
ATH: Pittman goes out hard, finishes fifthe
JANA PITTMAN has finished a brave fifth behind the new superstar of Greek athletics
in the 400m hurdles final at the Athens Olympics.
PITTMAN was racing in the Olympic final only 17 days after undergoing surgery on her right knee.
With her buildup to the Games so compromised, the Australian world champion and decided
that her only hope was to go out hard and try to blow the field away.
She led at halfway but tired badly in the final straight to finish fifth.
But Greece's FANI HALKIA -- all but unknown before the Games began -- clocked a winning
time that was the equal eighth-fastest of all-time.
IONELA TIRLEA-MANOLACHE of Romania was second and TETIANA TERESHCHUK-ANTIPOVA of Ukraine
was third.
PITTMAN says she didn't have the legs for the last 100 metres because she hadn't trained
for two weeks.
The 21-year-old says it was heartbreaking but she didn't want to make excuses.
She says it was great just to be in the final.
AAP RTV jds/mo/rca
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KEYWORD: OLY ATH PITTMAN (ATHENS)
2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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