BLACKBURN'S Jason Lobo bowed out of the World Athletics Championships in Seville last night - but immediately set his sights on the Sydney Olympics.

Lobo finished fifth in heat six of the 800m first round - tying up after looking well-placed at 600m.

"I tried to save myself a little bit for the back straight when maybe I could have made up that extra three yards," said the former Blackburn Harrier, who rang the Lancashire Evening Telegraph within minutes of crossing the finish line in a time of 1:47.53, well outside one of the fastest losers' slots.

"But I'm not desperately disappointed.

"I felt I ran a reasonable race but when you look at the people who finished ahead of me - the world indoor champion and the European champion - it was a quality field."

Lobo had had to break his personal best to even make the championships in Spain, and despite his obvious disappointment at failing to make the semi-finals, was looking to the future with confidence.

"I have made a massive improvement in my time already this season and so I suppose to hope to do it again here would have been greedy," said the 29-year-old policeman based at Rossendale. "But I definitely have something to build on from here. If I can shave a couple of tenths off my time I should make the Olympics. Sydney has to be my next aim. I have progressed well so far and, if I can get a good year's training, I hope I can go there.

"I got to the Commonwealth Games last year, the World this year, so now I I have to aim for the Olympics."

Lobo refused to blame the oppressive conditions in Seville. "It's been very hot - the temperature during the day has been 45C - and it was hot in the stadium but I don't think that had any bearing on the race.

"I'm not making any excuses, I felt I ran a reasonable race.

"The whole event has been a fabulous experience.

"Eating in the restaurant with the likes of Michael Johnson - and all the other top guys - has been fabulous."

Lobo's team-mates Mark Sesay and Curtis Robb also failed to qualify. But there was joy for Britain in the women's 10,000m where Paula Radcliffe collected a silver medal after a gutsy run.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.