Athletics: Roisin McGettigan and Fionnuala Britton gave it their best shot but were never in contention for a 3000 metres steeplechase medal at the World Championships in Osaka.
The pair were quickly burned off when Guinara Samitova-Galkina, raced off at world record pace rushed through the first kilometre on schedule in three minutes 00.35seconds.
McGettigan was 30m back in eighth position with Britton a further 50m behind her as the Russian world record holdcer relentlessly drove on.
Samitova-Galkina paid the prize before the next kilometre was completed and fallen off the pace as her teammates Yekaterina Volkova and Tatyana Petrova took up the running. Volkova was never headed posting a new championship record nine minutes 06.57sec
McGettigan was still hanging in eighth, but over the last two-and-half laps faded to finish 10th with Britton 12th in 9min 48.09sec.
McGettigan, who clocked 9min 39.80sec, had mixed reactions to her display.
She said: "I'm happy to finish inside the top 10, but I'm also disappointed. The performance was not satisfying. My coach told me to expect to finish between six and 10. Unfortunately, I was at the lower end of that range.
"It is a stepping-stone from last year and it is a stepping-stone for where I want to go. Next year I will be ready for the (Olympic) final. Hopefully I will be a lot stronger. The pace was fast, the girls are running very fast for a flat three never mind a steeplechase. "
"I have a lot ofwork to do, but I am making progress every year and it is getting better."
Joanne Cuddihy experienced the elation of setting a new Irish 400m record in her semi-final, but the disappointment of not making tomorrow night's final.
Cuddihy battled brilliantly to record a time of 50.73seconds in her one lap encounter breaking Karen Shinkins eight-year-old figure of 51.07sec.
It was a brave attempt from last year's European finalist who finished reflected in her shattered state after the semi won by Novlene Williams of Jamaica in 49.66sec.
"I would have been gutted if I had not broke the Irish record," said Cuddihy, acknowledging the strength of the field.
She added: "It is a matter of putting the performance out there in persepctive because even though it is a sprint the 400 metres is quite tactical.
"You just have to run the right rhythm from the start and not let the occasion get to you and run too quick and it's about getting the right balance."
Derval O'Rourke faces a huge task to make the 100m hurdles final for the first time against a stellar semi final field.
Last summer's European silver medallist was extended in her first round qualifier where she had to fight to the wire to guarantee progressing.
That has seen the 26-year-old Cork woman given the tight inside lane when bidding to make her first-ever championship final appearance.
The loaded field includes both the 2003 champion Perdita Felicien of Canada and Michelle Perry who succeeded her two years ago in Helsinki.
O'Rourke whose preparations have been hindered by niggling injuries, admitted making the semi had been hard work despite making a brilliant start.
"I got out fast but I was a little bit off in the warm-up," said O'Rourke whose warm-up did not go to plan when knocking over two hurdles at speed.