From ELIAS CHIPEPO in Glasgow, Scotland –

RUNNER Saviour Kombe on Tuesday night failed to reach the 400 metre race finals at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games here after finishing in distance seventh to dim Zambia’s hopes of minting a medal in athletics.

Titus Mukhala also tumbled in the men’s 200m qualifier for a place in the semi-finals after finishing fourth with a time of 21.20 seconds.

Zambia’s slim chances of winning a medal in athletics now lies in the 4x400m relay team that takes to the tracks tomorrow at the Hampden Stadium, home of English Premiership, Queens Park Rangers.

With African 400m women champion, Kabange Mupopo eliminated 24 hours earlier, pressure was on Kombe, who was making his second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, to impress by reaching the finals.

But it was not to be as Kombe finished seventh with a time of 47.70 seconds in a heat that was won by Trinidad and Tobago’s Lalonde Gordon, who timed 45.37 seconds.

Gordon qualified for the finals along with Latoy Williams from the Bahamas, who clocked 45.44 seconds.

In third place was Isaac Makwala of Botswana with a time of 45.57 seconds and Winston George was fourth on 46.38 seconds followed by Nigel Levine of England 46.57 seconds while Canada’s Mike Robertson was sixth on 47.30 seconds.

Australia’s Steven Solomon did not finish the race as he pulled out with an injury after 50m in a heat that saw Kombe start strongly in lane eight but got worn-out with about 100m remaining, allowing sixth runners to go past him.

In an interview, Kombe said the race was not tough and that he was placed on a ‘ bad’ lane.

Kombe said the chilly weather also did not help matters but that he would remain focused as he prepares for next month’s African championships.

“The race was okay, I started well yes, I tried to push but failed. Lane eight is not a good lane, it’s a blind lane for you don’t know what is happening and everyone in the other lanes target you,’’ he said.

Kombe said the future of Zambian athletics was bright going by the performance of himself and Mupopo who reached the 400m semi finals.

“I think the Zambian athletes are trying their level best and soon we shall catch up and start winning medals. I think reaching the semi finals is a good sign for me and Kabange. We just have to continue working hard to achieve the needed results,” he said.

Kombe, who equally reached the semi finals at the Commonwealth Games four years ago in India, is banking on the relay team to reach the 4x400m finals tomorrow.

“I think with the relay team we can get to the final and see what happens then,” he said.

The relay team has United States of America-based runner Prince Mumba, Mukhala, Cephas Nyimbiri, Evans Chimponde and Emmanuel Mwewa.

Meanwhile, Mukhala’s chances of winning a medal at the Glasgow Games were dashed yesterday after he finished fourth behind heat winner, Englishman Danny Talbot who clocked 20.56 seconds with Rodney Brendon of Canada second timing 20.77 seconds.