National record for Moodie

BEIJING, China:

Jamaica's swimming contingent here ended their Beijing Olympics campaign with another national record at the National Aquatics Centre.

Natasha Moodie powered to 25.95 seconds and fifth spot in heat eight of the 50 metres freestyle and became the first Jamaican woman to go under 26 seconds for the event.

However, like Alia Atkinson on Wednesday and Jevon Atkinson a day later, the Florida-based 17-year-old did not advance to the semi-finals of the event.

Moodie, who held the previous national record - 26.08 - for over a year, said she had wanted to go faster.

"I had a pretty bad start so I am kind of disappointed. I wanted to go faster but it is a personal best, so I can't complain too much," she said.

The fastest time in the heats was 24.20 by Australia's Cate Campbell.

Struggled

Drawn in lane one for yesterday's heat, Moodie struggled throughout to remain in touch with the top four but finished strongly to post the national record. The heat was won in 25.23 by Israel's Anna Gostomelsky, with Bahamian Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace second in 25.40.

On a lighter side, Moodie, a first-time Olympian, who will now set her sights on London 2012, said the Games was better than she expected as she enjoyed mixing with the Jamaican stars from track and field and cycling at the Games Village while waiting to compete.

"My swim was not as good as expected but just being with all the top class athletes was definitely a good experience," she said.

- Elton Tucker