Sometimes it really is worth celebrating an Irish athlete in a European final. At 22, and coming off two years of injury and illness, Joanne Cuddihy's eighth place finish in last night's 400 metres final concludes the first chapter of a remarkable story - and there should be plenty more to come.

Gothenburg's Ullevi Stadium was built for the 1958 World Cup, and is still recalled as the place where a 17-year-old known as Pele made his debut for Brazil. For Cuddihy it will hold its own special memories, the place she first broke on to the scene of major championship athletics.

Running in lane one didn't help her chances of impacting on the leading finishers, yet she ran another fine and determined race, finishing in 51.46 seconds.

"I don't want to blame it on the lane," she said, "because my legs had nothing in the last 20 metres, just gave up on me. The only time I'm disappointed with myself is when I come off the track and I'm not absolutely dead. And I'm absolutely dead now . . . I always try to give the best of myself, and I think I did that again."

The title went to Vanya Stambolova of Bulgaria in 49.85 seconds, She has made truly remarkable improvement this year, having only run 52.99 last season. Russia took silver and bronze with Tatyana Veshkurova (50.15) and Olga Zaytseva (50.28).

Cuddihy said: "I know I can break 51 seconds, and after that, maybe 50 seconds. That's my lifetime ambition . . . Some athletes come to the top at championships, and hopefully, I can start moving up from eighth place. If I can keep that going over the years we'll see some medals eventually."

Cuddihy returns to her medical studies at UCD next week, but when term finishes next March she hopes to take a year out and build towards the Beijing Olympics. The same with fellow medical student Paul Hession, who finished seventh in his 200 metres semi-final in 21.09 seconds. The title later went to Portugal's Francis Obikwelu in 20.01 - to add to his 100-metre crown - although the entire stadium was shouting for Johan Wissman, who won silver, equalling his Swedish record of 20.38.

Ireland's young 800-metre runners David Campbell and Thomas Chamney finished outside qualification in their heats, admitting it was an eye-opener. Campbell led through 600 metres, hitting the bell in 52.95, but was run down by five runners before the end, finishing sixth in 1:48.70. "I gave it my best shot," said the 24-year-old from Kilcock. "I knew I didn't have the legs to run with those guys over the last 200 metres, so I had to take it out, turn it into an honest race. But I'll look to the future now."

Chamney echoed Campbell's sentiments after taking fifth in his heat, clocking 1:50.12 in a more tactical affair: "A little disappointed," he said, "My race is not to lead it. There was no way I'd be out-kicking the 1:44 guys at this stage of my development, but I'll be back."

Neither Roisín McGettigan nor Fionnuala Britton could make it through their heats of the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase, with McGettigan disappointed with her time of 9:47.37 - just one spot away from the final. For Ciara Sheehy Gothenburg will be recalled as a nightmare as she pulled up in her 200-metre heat with a hamstring strain.