Athletics: Paul Hession and David Gillick became the latest Irish athletes to bow out of the World Championships in Osaka this afternoon having failed to make their respective finals.
Hession, bidding to become the first Irish man to reach a major
sprint final, was always up against in heat two of the 200 metres
and reaching the showpiece ultimately proved a bridge to far for
the Galway athlete, his time of 20.50 seconds leaving him in sixth.
Also out is Gillick, who was unable reach the 400 metres
final. The European Indoor champion was not far off his best,
coming home in a time of 35.37 seconds, but in a field of real
quality, that was good enough only for sixth place.
Earlier, Mary Cullen failed to advance to the final of the 5,000 metres, finishing well off the pace as the African contingent in the race dominated.
The Sligo athlete made a bright start but was unable to repeat the form she displayed recording her personal best earlier this year, eventually finishing in 11th place in a time of 15 minutes, 40.53 seconds.
The semi final was won by Ethiopia's Meseret Defar in a time of 15.10.13, with fellow country woman Meselech Melkamu taking second.