Sonia O'Sullivan finished a disappointing seventh in the 3000 metre final at the World Indoor Championships in Lisbon this afternoon.
O'Sullivan set a new Irish record of 8 min 44.37 seconds but never got on terms with eventual winner Olga Yegorova of Russia and race favourite Gabriela Szabo who finished second.
"I just wasn't focused," said O'Sullivan. "I didn't feel right. I finished strong and thought I could get among them but I didn't have it in my legs. I'm glad I have one more chance tomorrow."
Szabo set a steady pace from the off and dominated up front until the final lap where Yegorova peeled off the Romanian's shoulder and kicked into the lead.
O'Sullivan was tailed off the leading group of 10 but put in a strong final two laps to finish seventh.Yegorova powered away from the chasing pack and sprinted to the line to deny Szabo her fourth consecutive 3000 metre World Indoor title.
Another Russian, Yelena Zadorozhnaya, took the bronze in a time of 8:40.15.
Meanwhile, Daniel Caulfield failed to qualify from his semi-final of the 800m, finishing in fifth in today's race.
Women's 3000 metres final
1. Olga Yegorova (Russia) 8 minutes 37.48 seconds
2. Gabriela Szabo (Romania) 8:39.65
3. Yelena Zadorozhnaya (Russia) 8:40.15
4. Marta Dominguez (Spain) 8:40.98
5. Yanmei Dong (China) 8:41.34
6. Benita Willis (Australia) 8:42.75
7. Sonia O'Sullivan (Ireland) 8:44.37
8. Hayley Parry-Tullet (Britain) 8:45.36
9. Werknesh Kidane (Ethiopia) 8:46.56
10. Asmae Leghzaoui (Morocco) 8:47.60
11. Kathy Butler (Britain) 9:04.81
12. Regina Jacobs (U.S.) 9:05.33