DANNY Talbot ended his 200m participation at the World Athletics Championships with a new lifetime best but also a tinge of regret after his semi-final exit on Wednesday.

The Trowbridge sprinter, 26, finished fifth in a tough semi-final at the London Stadium to miss out on a place in tonight’s showpiece.

Drawn in the toughest of the three semi-finals, which included 400m world champion Wayde Van Niekerk, the former St Augustine’s Catholic College pupil ran a fine bend, but was squeezed out in a tight race to the line.

Talbot had shone in Monday’s heats with a personal best of 20.16, crossing the line alongside friend Van Niekerk, but was left to reflect on what might have been.

“It is disappointing. I need to work out why I wasn’t able to come back and repeat the same performance because the heat felt very easy,” he said.

“Obviously, you have more guys around you so it is a step up but I wasn’t able to step up. I can’t blame the conditions, it is the same for all 25 of us so I have to go back with my coach (Benke Blomkvist) and have a look at it.”

He added: “I just need to have more self-belief. I showed on Monday (in the heat) I had the ability to challenge the best with a personal best with a lot left in the tank but I have to do better as I am not a young athlete anymore.

“I am nearly reaching my peak and want to be in the finals and challenging for the medals.”

His Monday time was the eighth fastest ever by a British athlete, placing him above Marlon Devonish and Julian Golding in the British men’s 200m all-time list.

Talbot, also part of the British men’s 4x100m relay squad this weekend, added: “I think I’m in the best shape of my life so I’m just trying to go with it. It’s definitely the best season I’ve ever had and to be able to have that going into a home World Championships is something you can only dream of.’’