Louise Shanahan fails to advance from 800m heats

Louise Shanahan failed to advance to the semi-finals of the women's 800 metres at the Worlds Athletics Championships in Budapest.

The 26-year-old, who overcame early season injuries to win the national title last month with the second fastest time of her career, worked her way into the race after the bell and looked set for fourth before being pipped by Romania's Claudia Bobocea to finish fifth in a time of 2:00.66.

The Cambridge University student, who is set to complete her PhD in quantum physics in December, was ranked third coming into the event. Running from lane two, she sat towards the tail of the tactical opening lap.

At the bell Shanahan, who missed out on a European semi-final place last summer by one place, fought her way through as the pace picked up, coming into the last bend strongly to move into fourth before losing her place in the final 50 metres.

With the pace slower than some of the other heats, only the top three - Halimah Nakaayi, Adelle Tracey and Renelle Lamotte - made it through automatically to Friday's semi-finals.

At 8.35pm tonight Rhasidat Adeleke will aim to become the first Irish sprinter to win a medal at the World Championships in the final of the women's 400m on Wednesday evening, while Limerick sprinter Sarah Lavin (7.40pm) will race in the semi-final of the 100m hurdles.

WOMEN'S 100M HURDLES SEMI-FINAL

7.40pm - Sarah Lavin

WOMEN'S 400M FINAL

8.35pm - Rhasidat Adeleke