by Charlie Talbot-Smith

The World Athletics Championships were an eye opener in more ways than one for James Ellington after individual heartache was followed by team disappointment in Moscow.

Croydon-based Ellington was outshone by 19-year-old Adam Gemili in the individual 200m, failing to progress past the semi-finals as his fellow Brit made history on the way to fifth in the final.

After clocking 20.55 seconds to win his heat, Ellington’s 20.44 in the semi-final wasn’t enough with Gemili becoming the second quickest Brit ever with 19.98 for a final place.

Ellington and Gemili were to join forces however as part of Britain’s quartet for the 4x100m relay final but, despite crossing the line in third, they were stripped of bronze.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey’s exchange with Ellington wasn’t completed in time but he is adamant he’ll be better for the experience with 2014 set to be even busier than 2013.

"I think I had the capability of running 20.20 or faster in the 200m which would have made the final," he said.

"I’ve had a good year, I’ve been consistent and I can build on it for the future.

"Running consistent is the main thing and it’s only a matter of time when you are running consistently that you’re going to drop time and get faster as long as you stay injury free.

"I want to do both the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games next year, so for me it is just about running fast.

"I believe, with the work I am doing, that if I can stay injury free then I can do something like Adam has done at these World Championships."

Both Ellington and Gemili got up close and personal with Usain Bolt as gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m saw him become the most successful athlete in World Championship history.

Ellington was two lanes across from him in his 200m semi-final and, admitting that was a negative not a positive, he is adamant he’ll be better placed going forward.

"I was saying to the other guys that having Usain Bolt coming up on the inside was a bit off-putting but there’s nothing you can do about that," added Ellington.

"So you panic about it but with experience I’ll learn not to do that in future races."

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