SANTO DOMINGO, Aug 9: Olympic champion Anier Garcia failed to make the 110 metres hurdles final at the Pan American Games on Friday because of injury and admitted he could have to change his plans for the world championships.
The 27-year-old Cuban ran even though he had suffered a thigh muscle injury only three weeks earlier and concede he had taken a risk after limping home in fifth place in his semi-final with a time of 13.83.
“I couldn’t attack the hurdles,” said Garcia, who ran with a bandage over the injury.
Garcia, runner-up at the 2001 world championships in Edmonton, said he decided to race after feeling better on Thursday.
“I wanted to give satisfaction to Cuba, to my people,” he said. “That’s why I presented myself at the start-line.
“I don’t know no if I’m going to be able to compete in Europe as a warm-up for the world championship later this month.”
Results:
MEN:
200m: 1. Kenny Brokenburr (USA) 20.42sec, 2. Christopher Williams (JAM) 20.54, 3. Andre Domingos (BRA) 20.68