Barr just misses out on final spot

Barr just misses out on final spot

Thomas Barr just missed out on a place in the final of the men's 400m hurdles at the IAAF World Championships finishing 4th in the first semi-final in 48.71 seconds. 

Drawn in lane 9 once more, Barr had it all to do in a race won by Kenya's Boniface Mucheru Tumuti in 48.29 - a new personal best for the Kenyan. USA's Kerron Clement was second in 48.50 with Russia's Timofey Chalyy third in 48.69.   

"I’m a little bit annoyed because some athletes were slower than yesterday," said Barr afterwards. "Because I know if I ran close to or beyond my best, I could be in the final. I didn’t have as string a kick as yesterday but I’ll tak a huge amount from this world championships, fourth in the semi-final with my second-fastest time ever is pretty good. I just wish it was a little bit faster. I could not believe I was drawn in lane nine again after giving out about it yesterday, you’d swear the gods were listening." Barr will now focus on the 4x400m relay on Saturday. 

Wright disqualified

Alex Wright was disqualified midway through the men’s 20km race walk after receiving his third warning for failing to maintain constant contact with the ground. “It’s disappointing,” said the 24-year-old. “I wanted to achieve top 20. I just went for it. I took a risk and it didn’t pay off.” The race was won by Spain’s Miguel Angel Lopez in 1:19:14.

Wright will team up with Robert Heffernan and Brendan Boyce to contest the 50K event next Saturday.