Disaster struck for Michael Donawa at the CAC Games in Cartagena, Colombia yesterday when he tripped and fell during the second lap of his 800 metres qualifying heat.

Having finished the first lap in third place out of seven runners, Donawa appeared well-placed to challenge for the top-two finish required to advance to the final.

But with the runners packed tightly together for much of the race?s early stages, his legs became entangled with those of another and he crashed out on the track.

?Michael was absolutely devastated,? said Bermuda?s chef de mission Kris Hedges last night.

?Coming down the home stretch on the first lap he looked strong and comfortable, but with the runners so close together, there wasn?t a lot of room. He picked himself up after he fell over and started to carry on ? but after a few metres he realised the situation was hopeless.

?It was extremely unfortunate and he was very emotional afterwards. Mike doesn?t get too many opportunities to compete at that sort of level and when you do the training and it ends like that, it can be hard to take.?

Donawa was one of only two track athletes to travel to South America for the Games, with sprinter Akila King having failed to make it through the qualifying heats of the 200 metres the day before.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda women?s hockey team take on hosts the Dominican Republic today in Santo Domingo to determine who places last out of the eight teams competing.