Sarah Healy finished fourth in the women's 5,000 metres at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, missing the bronze medal by three tenths of a second after a closely contested final lap.
Healy crossed the line in 15 minutes 40.95 seconds. Italy's Micol Majori secured third place in 15:40.65, leaving the Irish athlete immediately outside the medals at the end of the 12-and-a-half-lap final.
Nadia Battocletti won the European title in 15:37.84. Spain's Marta García took silver in 15:39.98, with only 3.11 seconds separating the first four finishers as the leading group reached the line.
The final developed into a tactical race before the pace increased in its closing stages. Healy remained with the medal contenders and entered the final part of the contest in position to challenge, but Majori retained the final podium place at the finish.
Healy's fourth place adds another major championship result to a season in which she has competed over several distances. Her Birmingham time was slower than her best for the distance, reflecting the position-focused nature of a championship final rather than a paced race.
The official championship result lists the finishing order and times for the full field. Healy leaves the 5,000m final as Ireland's highest finisher in the event, having come within a fraction of a first senior outdoor European medal over the distance.