Athletics:David Gillick ran out of steam after a fine start to tonight's 400metres final at the World Championships in Berlin, finishing sixth in a time of 45.53 that was well off the mark he ran to qualify for the decider.
LaShawn Merrick won the battle of the American big guns at the head of the field, his finishing speed helping him hold off Jeremy Wariner to win in 44.06, the best time in the world this year.
Wariner was over half a second back in 44.60, with Trinidad and Tobago athlete Renny Quow taking bronze in 45.02.
It had all looked so different in the early stages as Gillick roared away from lane two, catching and overtaking Quow by the 150 metres mark.
Having run 44.88 in his semi-final, he looked well placed to push on, only to visibly tire in the third quarter of the race.
Quow was to make an amazing recovery, ripping through the field from seventh spot to claim the final medal, with Gillick dipping over the line ahead of Great Britain’s Michael Bingham.
Earlier, Ireland’s Jamie Costin and Colin Griffin both dropped out of the 50km walk this morning.
The pair was among 19 of the 50-strong field that did not finish the event, despite surprisingly favourable conditions.
Sergey Kirdyapkin regained the title he won in Helsinki four years ago despite suffering a bit of a wobble half way through.
The 29-year-old Russian clawed back a 36-second deficit to rejoin the leaders at the 35km marker and went on to win comfortably in a time of three hours 38 minutes and 35 seconds.
Kirdyapkin, whose time was the fastest in the world this year, was followed home by Trond Nymark in a Norwegian record of 3hr 41min 16sec with Spain's Jesus Angel Garcia finishing a further 21 seconds behind.