'Did not want to cry on camera': Aussie sprint star Torrie Lewis apologises, explains brushing of media

TOKYO: Australian sprinting young gun Torrie Lewis has apologised for brushing media and conceded she snuck away because she "did not want to cry on camera".

The 20-year-old was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 100 metres at the world athletics championships at Japan's Olympic stadium on Sunday night.

She then skirted Nine — retired Olympic long jumper David Culbert is trackside interviewing athletes — before rushing through the rest of the media zone before Australia's press journalists had time to scamper down from high in the stands.

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The Australian Athletics media team tried to locate her, but to no avail.

Lewis did speak with SBS' Mitch Dyer after her race, but was very short with her answers.

In Japan on Wednesday night, she finished second in her heat of the 200m in 22.56 seconds, a personal best, to progress to the semi-finals.

She then addressed Sunday night.

"You were disappointed with your semi-final in the 100m," Culbert said, interviewing Lewis on Nine.

"We saw that, we knew that. You didn't need to be."

Comforting Lewis with a smile, Culbert asked her if she'd had time to reflect.

"I was so emotional after that 100m semi-final," Lewis said.

"I think it just meant so much to me, and in my head I really thought I could make the 100m final, so in my head it was a failure.

"But I've had a day and a bit now to look back, and I'm really happy with how I went and finishing where I did."

She then said: "I'm sorry I didn't come through — I just did not want to cry on camera."

Culbert said in reply with a smile: "You don't have to apologise to us because you have so much support back home. And fingers crossed for tomorrow for the semi-final."

On night one of the world championships, Lewis clocked 11.08 seconds in the heats of the 100m to lower her Australian record.

She's held the record since running 11.10 seconds in Canberra in January last year to break the 11.11 set by Melissa Breen in 2014.

Lewis will contest the semi-finals of the 200m in Japan on Thursday night.