Athletics:The Irish women's 4x400m relay team ran a brave race in the heats at London 2012 today but as expected, they fell a long way short of qualification for tomorrow's final.
Marie Heffernan ran the first leg for Ireland as the United States, Britain and Russia streaked away at the gun. By the time Joanne Cuddihy got the baton, Ireland were in danger of being cut adrift altogether but the Irish record holder overhauled Brazil, Poland and Turkey before Jessie Barr took over.
Barr ran a steady 400m, as did Michell Carey in the anchor leg, as Ireland came home fifth of sixth of eight after Poland recovered for fifth.
It left them 13th overall, ahead of Germany, Brazil and Turkey after a time of 3:30.55. United States (3:22.09) were fastest of the qualifiers ahead of Russia (3:23.11) and Great Britain (3:25.05).
Earlier today, Polish born Andrzej Jezierski, wearing the green of Ireland, finished fourth in his semi-finals of the C1 200 metres at Eton Dorney having earlier in the morning qualified for the penultimate stage of the sprint canoe event with a second place in Heat One.
The Cork based 32 year old received Irish citizenship this year and elected to represent his adopted country. A twice former world champion, he finished fifth in this year’s European Championships after after his performance in the heats where he posted the seventh fastest time overall there was some optimism that he could make the elite final.
Jezierksi finished second to France’s Mathieu Goubel in his heat but could only manage fourth place in the second semi-final of three. The two top in each of the semis plus the two fastest third place canoeists qualified for tomorrow's medal race. Jezierski will instead race in the B final.