Carey fails to progress in Berlin

Dubliner Michelle Carey finished fifth in her heat of the 400m hurdles today at the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin, missing out on a place in the semi-final.

Drawn in lane 4 in the third of five heats, Carey was well in the hunt to nail down one of the four automatic qualifying places - coming into the home straight in third.

But she tied up over the closing 50 metres and Britain's Perri Shakes-Drayton (56.49) and Denmark's Sara Petersen (56.51) crucially overhauled her as the third and fourth qualifiers.

Jamaica's Melaine Walker, the Olympic champion, was in control of the race throughout and won in 55.17 seconds.

The fifth-placed Carey's finishing time was 56.91, seven-tenths of a second slower than the personal best she set in California last year.

The Dublin Striders athlete's hopes of going through as a fastest loser faded when the fifth heat proved to be the fastest of all.

American Lashinda Demus put in an impressive performance, clocking 54.66 for the win. Jonna Tilgner of Germany claimed the fourth and final fastest loser's spot with 56.73, putting Carey out.

Tomorrow will see Ireland’s big guns in action with Paul Hession first up in the heats of the 200m at 9:05am (Irish time).

He will be followed by Deirdre Ryan who will compete in the high jump qualification round at 9:20am. David Gillick is next in action at 10:05am in the 400m heats with Deirdre Byrne going in the 1,500m heats an hour later at 11:05am.

Derval O’Rourke makes her first appearance in the Championships at 5:10pm tomorrow evening in the heats of the 100m hurdles and if Hession qualifies he will compete in the 200m quarter-final at 5.55pm.

It has also been confirmed that Ireland’s World Championship hero Olive Loughnane will return to Dublin from Berlin at 5:40pm on Saturday afternoon where a large crowd is expected to greet her at Dublin Airport.