RAYMOND GRAHAM, STAR Writer

Martin Manley

EUGENE, OREGON

Martin Manley was one of the athletes that came into the World Junior Championships with a big reputation, but with the meet now at its end, the athlete has failed to justify big expectations.

Martin captured the gold medal a year ago in Ukraine, despite his low ranking coming into the Championships. The athlete failed to pass the semi-final round after a disappointing run where he trailed in seventh in his heat, clocking a pedestrian 48.38 seconds. Despite failing to attain the expected heights, however, the athlete remains positive.

"It is nothing to complain about as this is just a learning curve for me. It has been a great learning experience for me and my coach Donald Hawthorne. What really happened is that I just could not find any kick in the straightaway and that is something I will have to go back in training and try to correct," Manley added. The athlete did not agree with speculation that he went out too fast in the early going.

"That's my normal pace and I have been concentrating on the first 200 metres in training. I have been running consistent 21.4 seconds and that has been great for me, but I just could not find anything in the latter part of the race and that reminded me of what happened to Kirani James last year at the World Championships," said Manley.

"As athletes it can happen to anyone as you are always going to have a bad day and that was my bad day," said Manley.

"People are saying that there is tension in the camp, but there is no tension as everybody is gelling and supporting each other. Jamaicans on a whole are always expecting great things because of what Bolt has done, but it is not every time we go on the track we are going to do well. There will be disappointments."