August 17, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 14, 1429

BEIJING, Aug 16: American Sarah Hammer, one of the pre-race medal favourites in the women’s 3,000 metres individual pursuit, failed to advance to the medal round after a lacklustre performance in the first round.

Hammer, a two-time world champion in individual pursuit, came in second to Britain’s Rebecca Romero in the world championships in March. She had been expected to try to avenge that at the Olympics.

Romero finished with the fastest time of the evening and will race for the gold medal on Sunday evening against her team-mate Wendy Houvenaghel.

Hammer, whose website, says “World champion cyclist and future Olympic gold medallist”, sank down on the stairs that lead down from the track and burst into tears after her race.

“It was just not my day,” she said. “I was not feeling well out there, I was just not having fun.”

“I shed a few tears but I must put it behind me and move on to the points race — it is a different animal,” she said.

The American had a hard time in the qualifying round on Friday as well, finishing fifth out of 13 when she was expected to be one of the top few racers.

Hammer gave up the sport after two years as an elite rider.

She sold most of her equipment but was inspired to make a comeback after the 2004 Athens Games. She returned to racing in 2004. The women’s 25-km points race takes place on Monday.

—Reuters