Thomas Barr's hopes of putting himself in contention for an individual medal at the European Athletics Championships have come to an end.
The Ferrybank AC Olympian ran a 49.61 for third place in the first of the three 400m hurdles semi-finals on Monday morning, leaving him with a nervous wait for the result of the second semi-final.
The difference between automatic qualification or not was agonisingly close with just 0.04 standing between Barr and a guaranteed place in the final.
The dominant Karsten Warholm once again blitzed the field to win in 48.75.
The fastest two from each heat progress and then the fastest third-place finisher takes the final spot.
The combined efforts over the weekend may well have taken their effect on the two-time Olympian. He ran a superb leg of the mixed 4x400 mixed relay on Friday night, utterly emptying the gas tank to help Ireland to gold, and then yesterday he ran a season's best in 49.31 to qualify for Monday's individual final.
Great Britain's Alastair Chalmers took third in his semi in a time of 48.76 leaving no room for Barr to get through to the final.
He does however have a gold medal in his back pocket from the 4x400m mixed relay and some strong indicators of his form for the season.
Barr is due to be back in action in the men's 4x400m relay team that will take to the track for the opening round on Tuesday morning, however with selection made tomorrow morning and little recovery time for Barr, his place in the event is not guaranteed.
