Ciara Mageean put in a brave performance in front-running in the women’s 1500m semi-finals, but bowed out, writes Will Downing.

The European bronze medallist in Amsterdam last month went out in front at the start and remained in the top couple of positions for the first 800m.

Mageean was baulked close to the two-laps-to-go mark, but fought her way up again from sixth and was fifth at the bell, continuing to push up the inside during the closing lap.

Despite being fourth with 250m to go, Mageean was rapidly overtaken by many others and eventually finished 11th in 4:08:07 – still just two-hundredths of a second outside her season’s best and faster than the time that yielded her European medal.

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won in 4:03.95, ahead of Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum in 4:04.23 and American Shannon Rowbury was third, clocking 4:04.46.

Mageean was apologetic after the race: “All I can say is I’m very disappointed.

“I’m so grateful for all of the help people have given me to get me here. I’m just really sorry I didn’t give them an Irish finalist.”

Referring to her front-running tactics, Mageean said: “We needed top five to qualify, so is there anything more deliberate than to make sure you’re there for most of the race.

“I just wanted to be up and put myself in contention, which I did. I just didn’t have it come the end, what I needed and what I wanted in the last 200.

“But that’ll come in the future. I felt great after my heat.

“I have no excuses for that performance out there today. All I can say is I’m disappointed.”

The fourth day of athletics action sees Sara Treacy going to the line for the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at 3:15pm Irish time, while Universiade World University Games champion Thomas Barr is in 400m hurdles heat action at 3:55pm.