Lisa Dobriskey was left scratching her head after her planned World Championship hatchet-burying mission ended in disaster – admitting she pressed the panic button in Daegu.

Dobriskey (pictured) came within 0.01 seconds of claiming 1500m gold at the corresponding championships two years ago in Berlin and had talked of going one better in South Korea.

That Berlin display followed hot on the heels of finishing fourth at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and Dobriskey spoke of her desire to ditch her nearly-girl tag.

However, that reputation will only be strengthened now after the 27-year-old crashed out of the World Championships – the last major global event pre London 2012 – in the heats.

And after her Daegu disaster, where she crossed the line in 11th place in 4:12.70 minutes, Dobriskey was unable to offer a reason for her struggles.

"I realised I was in trouble with about 300m to go down the back straight and I think I panicked a bit and pressed too hard and then that was it," said Dobriskey – who prepared for the World Championships at a training camp funded by Aviva – supporters of British athletes since 1999.

“I felt like I raced really well and maintained my position coming into the bell and the last 400 metres.

“But then I just felt like my legs didn’t seem to be there when I needed them to be and it was all a bit too late.”

Dobriskey – who finished second at the UK Trials & Championships earlier this summer – had arrived in South Korea with an injury cloud hanging over her, with hip and back problems.

However the Ashford ace was quick to quash suggestions she had not been fully fit in South Korea.

“I don’t know what happened, my training had been fine,” she added. “I have just been struggling a little bit with the back of my leg but I thought I was coping quite well with it, but obviously not.

“I had some strapping on but that was just as a precaution, nothing new.”

Lisa Dobriskey has been selected for the Aviva GB&NI Team at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea. Aviva's support, both at home and abroad, is helping the team prepare to compete at their best. To find out more, go toaviva.co.uk/athleticsor follow us on Twitter @AvivaAthletics