Auckland sprinter Zoe Hobbs has missed a spot in the world indoor 60 metres championship by two-hundredths of a second at Belgrade.
After clocking a new Oceania record of 7.13s to qualify seventh-fastest through heats, Hobbs, 24, managed 7.16s for third in her semi-final, with only the top two and two fastest losers to progress.
In the third semi, Brazilian Vitoria Cristina Rosa ran a new South American record of 7.14s to edge Hobbs out of the final.
"It is hard not to be disappointed, but I think once I settle down, I'll be able to put it into perspective and be happy with the overall performance," she says. "I did re-focus well after the morning heat and I warmed up quite well, but I just didn't manage to execute that start.
"I felt like the girl in the lane next to me might have flinched and that might have thrown me a little, but I finished strongly, so I can take that as a positive for what was only my third race ever indoors."
The previous Oceania record of 7.30s was held by former Olympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson of Australia.
Meanwhile, in his first appearance for New Zealand, US-based Geordie Beamish advanced to the men's 3000m final, finishing second in his heat with 7m 51.71s.
"I am excited for it," says Beamish, 25, who recently broke national indoor records over 3000m and 5000m. "I'm sure it will not as easy as the heats, but I will just rest up and be prepared for anything.
"There is a good chance it will a lot faster."
