Irish quartet go close but fall just short in search of final involvement

SWITCHING FOCUS: Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley after finishing third. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

So near and yet so far, the positions they wanted were within grasp and tantalisingly just out of reach. 

That was the case for all four Irish athletes in action at the Stade de France in Paris this morning: Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan coming up short of the semi-finals in the 1500m, Sharlene Mawdsley and Sophie Becker also falling short in the 400m repechages.