Tyree Washington out of world championships

Tyree Washington, the fastest 400 metres runner in the world this year, pulled a hamstring at the U.S. championships on Friday and will miss the world championships in Edmonton in August.

Washington, who clocked a time of 44.28 seconds last month, pulled his right hamstring in the semifinals and failed to qualify in sixth place.

His time was 46.02 seconds.

"I had a hamstring pull about a week ago and then I ran too hard yesterday," Washington said.

"My leg swelled today and was hurting a lot. I could not push or feel anything (in the race).

"I ran like 46 (seconds). I usually jog that in practice, so this is a big disappointment."

It was the second successive year the 24-year-old Californian had suffered heartbreak in a major meeting.

Twelve months ago, Washington finished a non-qualifying third in his preliminary heat of the U.S. Olympic trials.

"I sat on that curve (after the race) and cried," he had said of his Olympic trials failure.

"I was so upset. I was one of the favourites, and I was going home. I told my wife that I didn't want to run any more, that I was finished...that I was washed up."

A respiratory infection had sapped all the strength from the man who in 1997 had been ranked number two in the world and was born an asthmatic.

But he bounced back this season, four times running under 45 seconds, culminating with his lifetime best of 44.28 seconds at Eagle Rock, California, on May 12.