Brian Gregan fell disappointingly short of the gold medal he so strongly targeted at the World University Games in Kazan, finishing fifth in the 400 metres final in what proved to be an ultra competitive race.

The DCU student was the fastest qualifier for the final, but lacked his usual power coming into the homestretch, Russia’s Vladimir Krasnov finishing fastest of the lot in lane eight to claim the home victory in a season best of 45.49 seconds.

That left Krasnov just .01 ahead of Brazil’s Adreson Henriques, yet Gregan was never even in a medal winning position, taking fifth in 45.83 – down on his season best of 45.53, and in fact equalling his fifth place finish of two years ago. Earlier, Jessie Barr finished sixth in the final of the 400m hurdles, clocking 57.65, also someway outside her best, as the gold medal went to Anna Titimets of Ukraine in an excellent 54.64.