I'll bounce back, pledges Baulch (From Stroud News and Journal)

I'll bounce back, pledges Baulch

JAMIE Baulch (pictured) went out of the World Athletics Championships individual 400m after coming fifth in the heats of the world championships - but he has vowed to bounce back.

The Risca flier clocked 46.15 secs on Saturday behind winner Algeria's Malik Louahla, who finished in 45.13, but still set a season's best in what has been a wretched summer for him.

Still smiling despite his disappointment, the former world 400m indoor champion blamed a lack of racing and his long term injury as he watched British teammates Mark Richardson and Iwan Thomas come through their heats.

Baulch said: "I needed to have raced a lot more this season, I have been plagued by injury this year, which has not put me in the right frame of mind.

"When you are competing out there against guys of that standard, it's tough out there. "It's hard, one day you on top of the world, the next day you are at the bottom, but that unfortunately is our sport, that's the way it goes.

"You have to take the rough with the smooth and unfortunately I am going through a rough patch, but it's times like this you have to dig deep and come out a champion."

Having watched Iwan Thomas suffer a bad fall in training on Monday, Baulch admitted he thought his teammate might have to withdraw.

He said: "I saw Iwan fall and I thought 'he's out', but thankfully he has recovered. "There are a lot of people out there with injuries, people not running as they want to be, like Daniel (Caines), Darren (Campbell) and Katharine (Merry).

"They are worse off than me, I am at least happy that my injury is getting better, but I just haven't run enough at the moment.

"I put myself on the line out there, I knew I wasn't in the best shape, but I'd rather compete and give it my best than stay at home."

Although disappointed to be off the pace with the world's best like Avard Moncur of the Bahamas who ran the only sub-45 seconds in the first heats, Baulch still managed to be upbeat.

He said: "It's a case of preparing for the relaysand then getting myself as fit as possible for next season."

With a grin he added the famous red Afro look he sported for the Argus before he flew to Canada may make an appearance in the 4x400m relay, if selected.

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