Palframan misses out on Moscow final

Justine Palframan ran 23.64 seconds in the fourth heat of the 200m first round. With world100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price two lanes outside her it was always going to be fast and the 19-year-old South African faded mid-way down the home straight.

Fraser Price was unchallenged in taking her heat in 22.78 seconds, leaving Palframan back in sixth and out of sight for one of the three fastest loser qualification spots.

“I went off hard, but tied up on the home straight,” said the Stellenbosch University student. “It’s been an amazing experience, but I am disappointed with my time. I had hoped to get a PB and that it may have given me a spot in the semi. I’d have been satisfied with a PB.”

Its been a tough year for the youngster who is better known as a 400m runner, but only focused on the 200m this year in order to reduce the impact of her first year of study in Sports Science and the relocation from home in Eshowe to a new life in Boland.

“I like being in Stellenbosch and being with my coach, so the move from KZN suits me,” said Palframan who was brought up in Eshowe, and was initially coached by her father, Steve.

“Now (this is over), I’m going to catch up on my studies and then the exams and hopefully next year will be a bit more stable. I’m still waiting to hear if I will return to Jamaica for another training camp. If I do it will only be in November or December,” she added.

Palframan has been over to the islands three times previously and experienced gained paid off handsomely in her junior performances.

“Its help me realize what you have to do to be the best, how they train, how they live and their experience, and when it comes to big competitions you’ve already been next to the very best people, so its not as intimidating. I think that has helped me and of course when you get here you see familiar faces,” she said. Palframan also realized that the facilities in Jamaica were not always the best. “They work with what they’ve got. They don't have any complaints they just do it. I used to train on a grass track at home and its what you have, you have to work with that.”

With her birthday on 4 November she is in the ‘transition’year into the senior ranks, which is another big step up in athletics terms, but one she has come through with flying colours having set a personal best of 23.22 seconds in Potchefstroom and 23.28 in April at Stellenbosch to take the SA Senior title.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Norrie Williamson

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre @ECRSportswave