Ireland's Gareth Turnbull qualified for the semi-finals of the 1500 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Paris today, however, Paul McKee failed to progress from the heats of the 400 metres.
24-year-old national champion Turnbull led for three laps of the third heat before rapidly losing places over the final straight to take seventh in a time of 3:41.84. The St Malachy's athlete led through 400m in 59.87 and took the bell in 2:46.21 ahead of Kenyan Isaac Songok. Portugal's Rui Silva eventually took the race in 3:41.35, the fastest of the three heats. Turnbull makes it to the semi-finals as the quickest of the fastest losers.
Meanwhile, Beechmount Harriers runner McKee finished last of seven athletes in heat two, which was won in convincing style by American Calvin Harrison in 45.43 seconds. McKee, a bronze medallist at the World Indoor Championships in March, ran 46.43 - over a second away from his Irish record of 45.58.
Elsewhere, Ciara Sheehy won the women's 100/200 metres double at the Freiburg International Meeting in Switzerland today. Sheehy won the 100m in a personal best time of 11.52 seconds, and claimed the 200m in a seasonal best of 23.41.
Filed by James Boylan
