Su's historic final qualification puts China on new start

A lucky qualification not just put Su Bingtian in the men's 100m final as the first Asian in the athletics world championships but also set a new start for China's sprinters.

The 26-year-old Su created history for the host country in the world championships sprint events when he became the first Chinese to run the blue-ribbon 100m final in Beijing.

Su was able to stand at the start line after a dramatic semifinal in which he was among three athletes who all clocked 9.99 seconds and all of them qualified to make it a rare nine-man final. It is also the first time in world championships history that a sub-10 seconds time has been required to reach the final.

"I was restless after the semifinal and I thought it was a long shot to enter the final. When the organizers announced my qualification, I was extremely happy," said Su, whose 9.99 equaled his own national record and made him the first Chinese to run under 10.

Su finished ninth in 10.06 in the final where Bolt fended off challenge from Gatlin to defend his title in 9.79.

"After the heat and the semifinal, I felt I ran out of energy so 10.06 was good enough for me," Su said.

Su believed running along with top athletes like Bolt and Gatlin was both a honor and valuable experience.

"I felt honored as a Chinese to run in the 100m final. I think this experience will be very helpful for me as I know what it is like to compete with the world's very best," Su said.

Luck may play a part in Su's qualification but the international economy major from Guangdong province said Chinese sprinters are standing on the threashhold of a new stage after years of hard work.

"My performance can speak for the Chinese athletics. My predecessors worked very hard and Chinese athletics has been gaining momentum until today's breakthrough. I have faith in us and believe there will be more Chinese athletes running in the world's top sprint events like me," he added. Endi