World Championships: Brian Gregan fails to make 400m final

Ireland's Brian Gregan has failed to reach the final of the 400 metres at the World Championships in Moscow.

Gregan finished seventh in his semi-final in a time of 45.98 seconds, 0.45 outside his personal best, on Monday.

The Dubliner had progressed to the semi-finals after clinching a faster loser spot in Sunday's heats.

Gregan took the third of the four fastest loser places with a time of 46.04, with the heat won by Brazil's Anderson Henriques in 45.13.

The 23-year-old Irishman was under 46 seconds on a number of occasions in the early part of the summer but he has struggled to reproduce that kind of form since finishing a disappointing fifth at the World University Games in Kazan.

Gregan was delighted to make the semi-finals as he became the first Irish athlete to progress from a qualifying heat at the championships after an injury-affected build-up to the Championships.

"Missing that much training, to come back and run 46.0, 45.9 is positive. This was a bonus after making it through the heat," said Gregan.

"The last month has just been on and off, on and off, it's not ideal coming into a World Championships.

"But this should stand me in good stead for the Europeans next year, and onwards. My last 100 was a bit weak, but it was okay. I just couldn't go with them around the last bend."