CUSAI World University Games final day round-up

Ireland's athletes put in strong performances in the final day of competition at the World University Games in Belgrade.

In the scorching sun of the famous Red Star Stadium, Ireland's women finished fourth in the final of the 4x400m and Deirdre Byrne came fifth in the 1,500m final with Hazel Murphy in 10th.

Murphy ran 4:20.92 minutes and after the race said: "It was very hard when it goes off very slow and your legs just can't go as the pace increases. We did our best but it just wasn't good enough today."

UCD student Byrne, who ran 4:19.71 minutes was in contention with the top tier of runners until 300m to go when the front pack of three broke away at a turn of pace and Byrne dropped down the rankings.

Byrne said: "The change of pace was just so quick and I just didn't have it there at the end. I did the best I could today and the just the way the race was run, I didn't have the turnover that the other girls had with the sprint at the end."

The 4x400m team, made up of Claire Bergin, Brona Furlong, Fiona O'Friel and Joanne Cuddihy, ran 3:39.74 minutes to finish fourth in the final.

Ireland always faced a tough race with an impressive Canadian outfit winning the gold in 3:33.09, Russia taking second place and Senegal winning bronze.

Olympian from Beijing Cuddihy said: "I think everyone put in a solid performance, unfortunately there was a clear three ahead of us, but we can be proud of ourselves."

O'Friel, who ran the third leg of the race, said: "It was always going to be tough. The Canadians had second and third in the 400m flat, the Russians had two girls in the 400m flat final and so did Senegal, who had a girl in the 400m hurdles final as well. So we knew it was going to be tough.

"We were hoping though, because you never know in a relay what can happen and thought we could sneak in there. We gave it our best and there's not much else we can do."