IRELAND HAS NOT qualified for the 4x400m mixed relay final after finishing fifth in their heat.

The team struggled to secure a place in the top three in a race that included the Netherlands, Britain, Italy, Ukraine, Nigeria, Dominican Republic and Germany to make it to the final.

In heat one, the US, France, Belgium, Jamaica and Poland qualified for tomorrow evening’s final.

Ireland’s time was 3:12:67 in heat two. They needed 3:11:43 to qualify for the final.

At the Tokyo Olympics, they finished 8th.

In this evening’s semi-final, the Great Britain secured first place, with the Netherlands, Italy and Nigeria close behind.

Sophie Becker stepped in for Rhasidat Adeleke, who decided to skip the event to focus on her quest for a historic spring medal for Ireland in the 400m race next week. 

Chris O’Donnell, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley ran the other legs of the tonight’s heat, having been part of the team that won gold at the European Championships earlier in the summer in June.

O’Donnell was first out for Ireland, running his leg in 45.80. Becker followed with a 51.07 leg before Barr clocked 45.20. Mawdsley then finished strong with 49.97, but it wasn’t enough for Ireland to advance from a stacked field.

Earlier, Ireland’s Jodie McCann failed to progress from the heats of the Women’s 5,000m.

The Dublin City Harriers athlete finished 20th in her heat, crossing in 15:55.08.

The first eight from each heat advanced to the final. 

Cathal Doyle, Luke McCann and Andrew Coscoran all failed to progress directly in the 1500m heats. A repechage has been introduced at these Olympic Games, so all three athletes will get another chance in Paris.