Kerala’s Jinson Johnson ran the third fastest 800m race by an Indian to win the gold but missed the Rio Olympics qualification standard narrowly on the second day of the 56th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships here on Wednesday.
25-year-old Johnson 1:46.43 while the Rio Games qualification mark stands at 1:46.00. Johnson ran a fast first lap to the amusement of everyone at the G M C Balayogi Stadium at Gachibowli, with Sajeesh Joseph acting as a pacer. Joseph pulled out after the half-way stage to leave Johnson to complete the remaining part of the race at his own pace. When the timings appeared on the electronic board, Johnson look visibly disappointed as he missed Rio Games standard narrowly.