HAZEL Robson refused to be downbeat after her first shot at a medal at the IPC World Championships in New Zealand came to a disappointing close.

The 31-year-old had to contend with running a heat in the T36 200m for the first time ever on Saturday but showed no signs of inexperience as she comfortably won it in 32.14 seconds.

That was good enough to see Robson progress through to yesterday’s final as the third fastest but she failed to reach the podium, finishing an agonising fourth in Christchurch.

Robson crossed the line in 32.52, just 0.59 behind German bronze medalist Claudia Nicoleitzik, but has vowed not to let the result put a dent in her confidence.

“There was a delay in the race before mine and I felt really tense in my legs by the time I had crossed the finish line,” said Robson, who has four Paralympic and five world medals to her name since 1988.

“I was too slow on the blocks and didn’t get a good start. I also haven’t done a 200m bend for a very long time.

“I wasn’t able to train much back at home in the UK before coming out to New Zealand because it had been snowing so much.

“I didn’t know who was first, second and third when I crossed the line because I was just concentrating on myself.

“I tried to dig deep and use the strength I had left in me but it didn’t happen. I am not going to let it affect me too much because I still have other races.”

Russia’s Elena Ivanova pipped China’s double Paralympic champion Wang Fang to gold by over half a second clocking 30.40, with Germany’s Nicoleitzik a further second behind.

Robson will return to the track at Queen Elizabeth II Park for the T35-38 4x100m relay and said: “I am going to give it my all in the relay and hopefully I can do well and take that into things when I compete individually again. I will learn from the 200m and make sure my 100m is better.”

* Aviva has been supporting British athletes since 1999. To find out more about Aviva’s athletics sponsorship, visit aviva.co.uk/athletics