Athletics-Richards blocks out loss of diamonds to stay on track

OSAKA, Japan, Aug 29 (Reuters) Nothing can blur Sanya Richards' focus.

Not even the loss of a 20,000 dollars diamond broach.

The US sprinter felt the jewellery ping from her chest, bounce off her knee and fly off the track during her 200m heat today but the 22-year-old just kept running to win it.

''I know what my goals are when I step on the track and nothing was going to distract me even if ,000 just fell off my chest,'' she smiled, before conceding her concentration had wavered ''just for a second''.

Richards was given the broach as a good-luck charm from a sponsor and decided to wear it during her race.

''It wasn't a good idea,'' the Jamaican-born athlete admitted afterwards.

''I'm coming off the turn it pings off my knee and goes over to lane 8. I'm looking like, 'NOOOO' but I have to stay focused and finish the race.

''The Japanese people are so accommodating and so nice. As soon as I told them, like 10 or 15 ran up there and found it for me -- it was in lane 8.

Her mother now has the pin and Richards has no plans to run in it again.

''I'll wear it for the medals ceremony,'' she grinned.

REUTERS TB KP1759