He had to hope his right take-off leg, which he injured in his last training session before leaving for Britain's pre-championship holding camp in Portugal, would hold out.Grant had advised his perennial rival before the competition in his role here as non-playing captain, and he knew what he was talking about. The additional information that Paula Radcliffe, a strong title contender for Thursday's 10,000m final, was carrying a "niggle" after straining a hamstring while practising her sprinting.Smith's challenge risked another, serious injury on the British list. "My agent will be appealing."Jackson, recording 13.20 and 13.22 for two wins, qualified handsomely, as did Britain's other world record holder Jonathan Edwards, who reached today's triple jump final with a jump of 17.28m, the second furthest of the day.The day had begun gloomily for the British team with the news that Chris Rawlinson, who moved to third in the world lists with his 400m hurdles victory in Zurich two weeks ago, had had to pull out after exacerbating an ankle injury. I'll be back for the Sydney Olympics."Brighter news arrived for Britain soon after Smith's departure, however, when Colin Jackson's main rival for the 110m hurdles title, Mark Crear of the United States, dropped out of contention for tomorrow's final when he was disqualified for false-starting twice in the second of his two heats."It's a scandalous decision," Crear said. "It was either that or go home, and I wasn't going to go home.
After making two attempts to clear a height - at 2.35, and then 2.37 - Smith came to a halt on his run-up and fouled out on his third effort - also at 2.37 - before limping away to contemplate the damage. "I just wanted to give it my best shot," said Smith, who had aggravated his injury in qualifying. No one, not even his maverick team-mate Dalton Grant, had ever attempted to join a competition at such an advanced stage - but it was an attempt doomed to painful failure. If he gets to Doncaster safe and sound, he must be in with a very big chance."RICHARD EDMONDSONNap: Tony Tie(Hamilton 4.15)NB: Pegasus Bay(Hamilton 2.45). STEVE SMITH, nursing a torn Achilles tendon, took the biggest - and bravest - gamble of his career last night as he made an unprecedented arrival in the World Championship high jump final at a height of 2.35 metres.
"He's shown tremendous improvement, he's genuine and his form is excellent. John Dunlop's colt, the runner-up to Montjeu in the French Derby, is the ante-post second favourite for Doncaster behind Ramruma."Nowhere To Exit had a slight setback just prior to York but he's fine now," Marcus Hosgood, Dunlop's racing secretary, said yesterday. A big and fearsome horse, he also appeared one with much improvement to come despite success in the Beeswing Stakes at Newcastle on his reappearance last month, a performance rather overshadowed by Daylami's King George victory the same afternoon."It was an impressive display that day and the form has worked out quite nicely but this is another step up for him," Crisford said. "We want to see him in Group Two company before we raise our sights a little bit higher for him. But he's worked consistently well and he's a progressive colt.
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