BLACKBURN Harrier Alison Leonard has bowed out of the European Athletics Championships after a coming together in her semi-final forced her out.

Leonard was towards the front at the start of the second lap when she collided with Bulgarian Vania Stambolova and Poland’s Joanna Jozwik meaning the 24-year-old lost momentum.

She fell back from the leading group before deciding to pull out.

It was Leonard’s senior debut for Great Britain and she was the fastest qualifier heading into the semi-finals.

Leonard admitted she mentally caved in after the collision and was not injured.

When asked if she had picked up a knock she said: “No, I just lost momentum and then I went mentally because I had lost the pack.

“I am disappointed I didn’t carry on. I should have carried on and pushed to the line.

“It was choppy the whole way round. Someone ahead of me chopped and I moved into the way of someone behind me and got hit in the back. At that point a gap had opened and I was at the back.”