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Dobriskey: Tactical errors
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Great Britain finished just outside the medals in both the men's and women's 4x400m relay, while there was more disappointment for Lisa Dobriskey who finished fourth in the 1500 metres.
Great Britain's women came home fifth in their final. Without the services of the injured Lee McConnell, the quartet opted to put individual 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu on the first leg.
While she put the team in contention, non-specialists Kelly Sotherton and Marilyn Okoro, on legs two and three, struggled to stay in touch with the leaders and left Nicola Sanders with too much to do to challenge for a medal.
Sanders chased hard but made little impact on those ahead of her with the Sanya Richards-inspired United States team pipping Russia down the home straight with Jamaica taking third.
Men finish fourth
Great Britain's men went one better but still missed out on the podium as they trailed home the United States, Bahamas and Russia to finish fourth.
Individual finalist Martyn Rooney put in a storming sub-44 second final leg but could not quite get into the race for silver and bronze, while the Americans were in a class of their own as they cruised to a convincing win in an Olympic record time.
Dobriskey frustrated
Dobriskey also ended up fourth and will be left wondering what might have been after scuppering her chances with a poor tactical run.
The fast-finishing Briton got boxed in and trailed the leading four or five runners by some 15 or 20 metres at the bell.
True to form she produced a strong kick down the home straight, but despite passing a number of rivals she could not reel in the leaders with Kenyan Jebet Langat taking the gold ahead of Ukrainian duo Iryna Lishchynska and Nataliya Tobias.
Afterwards a disappointed Dobriskey commented: "I really thought I could do it today and I just missed out.
"I just misjudged my finish a little bit so it's disheartening. I was desperate to get a medal. I wanted it and feel like I've missed a really good opportunity there.
"I just missed it by a split second, I think it's such a fine line. In the past I've gone a little bit too hard too early and finished further down so it's hard.
"There was some more there, that's the frustrating thing, there was more to give and I messed up tactically."
