Ireland's Colm McLean gave a good account of himself on the final day of the world junior athletics championships in Annecy, France, finishing fifth in the 1,500 metres final. Victory went to Moroccan Adil El Kaouch in three minutes 42.43 seconds.
McLean clocked 3:44.79, and left the stadium dreaming of medal success in the European junior championships next year. But at the weekend he was again found wanting in the sprint up the home straight.
"You're always disappointed if you don't win a medal," he said. "But it's the best I could have given and I enjoyed every minute of it."
Britain claimed two gold medals on the final day, David Parker winning the javelin with a throw of 72.85 metres and Julie Pratt taking the 100 metres hurdles in 13.75 seconds.
The championships ended with the unlikely result of the American men returning home without a gold medal, after the Australian 4x400 metres team imposed the first defeat on the United States in the event since the championships began in 1986.
