HARD work failed to come to fruition for Stratford Athletic Club’s Andrew Pozzi as he failed to defend his European Indoor Championships 60m hurdles title.
The former Alcester Grammar School student had shown admirable commitment to even make the Glasgow event, having been expected to miss out due to a quad injury.
However, Pozzi, who has moved to Italy to work alongside top hurdles coach Santiago Antunez to boost his hopes of winning a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, did head to Scotland and set season’s best times in both the heats and semi-finals.
The reigning World Indoor 60m hurdles champion made a fine start to the final and was joint-quickest to react to the gun, but he lost rhythm as hurdles were clipped and his dip for the line and his time of 7.68 was only good for sixth, with Milan Trajkovic of Cyprus something of a surprise winner in 7.60.
Pozzi cut a despondent but realistic figure after the final, admitting it had been an achievement to have competed.
However, on the basis of his performances in the heats and semis and then the start to the final, the 26-year-old said he felt he could and arguably should have come away with a medal.
