Weale and co fail to reach final at World Championships

EUROPEAN silver medallist Sam Weale agonisingly missed out on the World Championships final as all three Brits bowed out in the semis in Chengdu, China.

MISSING OUT: Sam Weale just misses out on a place in the World Championships final in Chengdu, China (Getty Images)

Needing a top-12 finish to advance, Weale could only manage 13th and as a result will now have to turn his attentions to the team relay competition along with compatriots Jamie Cooke and Nick Woodbridge.

Cooke, 19, endured contrasting fortunes and produced by far the fastest swim of the day, clocking 1:57.18 minutes and led semi-final B heading into the combined run/shoot discipline.

But he could not hold onto a qualification spot and slipped down to 14th place.

Pentathlon GB performance director Jan Bartu said: "We were excited about Jamie today, but in the end he paid the price for being very young and inexperienced.

"We hope they can have another go in the team relay in a few days' time. We're now looking forward to seeing how the girls go tomorrow."

Beijing Olympian Woodbridge struggled to recover from a disappointing fence in semi-final A, where he lost 17 of his 27 contests. Despite the fastest swim in the semi, he ended the day 22nd.

The women's team of Katy Burke, Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell, Samantha Murray and Freyja Prentice contest the women's semis for Great Britain on Thursday.