Georgia's title hunt ends spectacularly

FAVOURITE FADES TO MISS OUT ON A MEDAL

- By Alan Smith

GEORGIA HUNTER BELL paid the price for serving as the ideal pacemaker to finish a shock fourth in the 1500m final.

France’s Agathe Guillemot claimed a surprise gold in a slow time of 4mins 7.23secs, with Portugal’s Salome Afonso second as Revee Walcott-Nolan claimed bronze for Britain by pipping Hunter Bell on the line in Apeldoorn, Holland.

The Olympic bronze medallist had arrived in the form of her life and with credentials to make the chasing pack blush — including a personal best three seconds faster than the next best. But this was also her first time as a favourite at a championships.