BIRMINGHAM, England — Nickel Ashmeade has admitted that not making the Jamaican team to the London Olympic Games was a big blow to him but said he would do everything the same way if he had to do it all over again.

Ashmeade, who had run a personal best 9.93 seconds in the 100m earlier in the season, skipped the competitive shorter sprint to concentrate his efforts on the 200m, but was beaten for third place by Warren Weir, behind Yohan Blake and Usain Bolt.

Weir went on to take the bronze in the men’s 200m at the Olympic Games to complete Jamaica’s first-ever men’s sprint sweep after Bolt won in 19.32 seconds with Blake finishing second.

The US-based Ashmeade outdueled the American pair of Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon to win the 200m at yesterday’s Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix at Alexander stadium in 20.12 seconds.

The Daegu World Championships 200m finalist rejected the suggestion that he should have run the 100m and try to get a relay place in Jamaica’s team to the Olympics. “It’s a big mishap but I would do it the same way again,” Ashmeade said.

He added that he was very happy with how the Jamaicans performed in London and the record 12 medals haul, which surpassed the 11 won in Beijing, China four years ago.

Ashmeade’s said his season has been going well. “(I have) no injuries and I am happy with that and,” he said as he looks to getting in two or three more races before the season ends.

“I am sure about Zurich (another IAAF Diamond League meet) and my agent is trying to secure some other races, but I am not sure yet,” he said.

Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade poses for photographs after winning the men’s 200m at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix at Alexander stadium yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)