Ireland's Anne-Galligan bows out of 800m

Rose-Anne Galligan's spectacular return to top-class athletics this year didn't translate into qualification for the semi-finals of the 800m at the World Championships in Moscow.

After winning her heat at the European Indoors in Gothenburg, and then breaking Sonia O'Sullivan's long-standing Irish record at London's Anniversary Games last month, Galligan finished a second-and-a-half down on her new mark this morning, finishing seventh in her heat and instantly bowing out.

The Cheltenham-based Newbridge AC athlete was playing catch-up from the start, and with Alysia Johnson Montano of the United States burning up the track, a swift opening lap of 57.02 seconds left Galligan with much to do.

The final 150m proved much more positive for the 25-year-old, as she overhauled Russian Marina Pospelova, and almost did the same with Wang Chunyu, but despite being given the same time as the Chinese runner, was allotted one place behind her in seventh.

Johnson Montano won in 1:59.47, with Nataliia Lupu of Ukraine second in a season's best 1:59.59, and Halima Hachlaf of Morocco third in 2:00.04.

Galligan was joint eighth-fastest loser, with only four progressing to tomorrow night's semi-finals.

"I was ranked 28th going into it, and only 16 progress, so I knew I had a very slim chance of getting through," she said.

"I was determined not to finish last in the heat.

"Breaking the national record is the obvious highlight of the year, and being here is a bonus.

"But I learned something from the race and I will take it as motivation into next year for the European Outdoors and World Indoors."

Also bowing out was Kelly Hetherington of Australia, who won June's Mary Peters International 800m in Belfast.

Rob Heffernan will receive his 50k walk gold medal this evening, in a ceremony at around 5:45pm Irish time.