Not even a spike to the face would deny gritty Kiwi steeplechaser Geordie Beamish a place in the final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday (13 September).
The former world indoor champion produced a phenomenal fightback from a crash with one lap to go to earn his place in the final of Monday’s men’s 3000m steeplechase final.
The 28-year-old Beamish took a tumble over a barrier on the final lap of the second heat. Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnés went down with him. A photo later shows how his running shoe is making contact with Beamish’s face.
But the tenacious Beamish dusted himself up and recovered his dignity by working his way back into contention. The New Zealand athlete produced a stunning kick to cross the finish line in second place to book his place in the final. Only the top five finishers in the three heats qualify for the final.
Beamish revealed to reporters after the race that everything happened so quickly that there was “no thinking, just doing”. He suffered only “a couple of scratches”, nothing serious.
Desgagnés did not advance to the final on place but race officials awarded him a spot later on.