Runner Magidi finishes second last

The 27-year-old clocked a time of 9:05.02 minutes in the qualifiers and admitted after the race that he was running injured.

By ALLON SINAI - BEIJING
magidi 88 (photo credit: )
magidi 88
(photo credit: )
The Olympic athletics competitions got off to the worst possible start for Israeli team on Saturday after Itai Magidi finished just 36th out of 37 racers in the 3,000 meters steeplechase. The 27-year-old clocked a time of 9:05.02 minutes in the qualifiers and admitted after the race that he was running injured. "I hurt myself on Tuesday and I didn't even know if I would be able to start the race," said Magidi. "This race was awful. I just kept on thinking how I'll find the energy to finish it." The Israeli, who would have finished in the very respectable 19th position had he repeated his Israeli record of 8:24.14m, promised he would be back for the London 2012 Games. "I see no reason why I shouldn't continue until London, especially after running the worst race of my life in Beijing," he said. "I want to experience the Olympics again, even though my best will probably not be enough to make the final in London too."