Chris O'Donnell and Irish mixed 4x400m relay team exit Olympic Games

Chris O'Donnell ran a fine opening leg, but Ireland's mixed 4x400m relay team have missed out on a place in the Olympic Games final.

North Sligo AC athlete O'Donnell, who was educated at Magh Ene College in Bundoran, was the opening act for Ireland in Friday's semi-final at the Stade de France.

The Irish team of O'Donnell, Sophie Becker, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley finished fifth in 3:12.67.

O'Donnell ran a good opening lap, going through in 45.80 seconds, and handed off to Becker. After Becker came around in 51.70 seconds, the baton went to Barr with Ireland in fifth spot.

A 45.20 lap from Barr kept Ireland in fifth and while Mawdsley ate up the anchor leg, going below 50 seconds in 49.97 it wasn't enough to advance.

Tallaght sprint star Rhasidat Adeleke skipped this event to focus on her individual 400m run, but even with her talents this would've been a tall order.

Great Britain (3:10.61), Netherlands (3:10.81) and Italy (3:11.59) took the top three spots.

The first semi was won in a new world record 3:07.41 by a formiddable United States quartet of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon and Kaylyn Brown with France second in 3:10.60 and Belgium third in 3:10.74 – both national records.

In June, O'Donnell – a late addition in place of Cillin Greene - joined Adeleke, Barr and Mawdsley to win gold at the European Championships in Rome, finishing in 3:09.92 – a new national record.

Greene, Adeleke, Barr and Mawdsley partnered for a then national record of 3:11.53 to win bronze at the World Relays in the Bahamas at the start of May.

Last year at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, O'Donnell rang alongside Sophie Becker, Jack Raferty and Mawdsley to finish sixth in 3:13.90.