CARTAGENA, Colombia—Dion Crabbe narrowly missed a place in tonight’s Central American Games 200 meter finals, after finishing fourth in the first of two heats. Crabbe, sixth in the 100 meter finals was seeking his second successive finals berth in his pet event, where he was fourth in 2002, after winning the 100 meters.

Running from lane six, Crabbe posted a season’s best time of 21.02 seconds, but did not advance, as two people in the second heat posted faster times. He was 10th overall.

“This morning, we knew he had the potential to go to the second round which he did, but, it wasn’t his best 200,” coach Dag Samuels said after Crabbe recorded a time of 21.36 seconds in the prelims. “This evening, I think because he has not been competing as much as he should have, he missed the finals by two positions, because of a weak finish. The potential is there—I’m making no excuses for him—but I thought he would have been in the finals. It was just unfortunate luck that caused him not to be there.”

After competing in Wednesday’s 100 meter finals, Samuels said Crabbe was positive knowing that he could compete well in the 200 meters, based on the times he has run, including a season’s best 10.36 in the first round of the 100 meters. “This is the first that I didn’t see him beating himself up and not being depressed,” Samuels said. “He had high hopes for the 200 today.”

In order to get back close to where he was, Samuels said Crabbe’s motor skills need to be refurbished. Samuels said Crabbe has been using a different running style which he has not been able to adjust to and should go back to his old style with some minor adjustments, which would give him better results.