Plymouth hurdler David King frustrated after World Athletics Championships semi-final exit

Plymouth hurdler David King was left disappointed and frustrated after failing to perform to his best in the controversial 110m Hurdles at the World Athletics Championships. The 28-year-old was eliminated in the semi-finals in Eugene overnight as the final was overshadowed by those not involved.

American Grant Holloway successfully defended his world title, but Olympic champion Hansle Parchment of Jamaica did not start after running into a hurdle in warm-up and injuring himself. US team-mate and another of the favourites, Devon Allen, was disqualified after false starting by one thousandth of a second.

Holloway had empty lanes on either side himself but claimed gold in 13.03, while fellow American Trey Cunningham took silver with 13.08 and Asier Martinez of Spain the bronze in 13.17. Allen, a former University of Oregon wide receiver who signed with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, had argued with officials before leaving the track, as boos rang around Hayward Field.

While King missed out on the final, finishing sixth in his semi in 13.51 Joshua Zeller, one of the rising stars of British athletics, did make the final. The 21-year-old finished a fine fifth in 13.33.

“It was a little messy from me,” King told BBC Sport after his semi-final elimination. “I took a few risks and tried to really push myself but I hit a couple of hurdles pretty hard and once you have done that kind of hard to come back from it.

“I am a little bit frustrated, I felt I could have done better than that today, it is one of those thing. It is championship racing, and I feel like while I have done a few champs, I am not the most experienced athletes, but it is coming and eventually I will perform properly at a championships. At the end of the day, I