HAMPSHIRE'S Rob Tobin failed to win a medal in the final race of the Athletics World Championships in Osaka today.

A young 4x400m GB team of Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid-Hants), Andrew Steele, Richard Buck and Martyn Rooney clocked 3mins 2.04 seconds to finish sixth in the 4x400m relay.

USA, with individual gold-medallist Jeremy Wariner running the final leg, landed the gold in 2mins 55.56secs.

But the British quartet, with an average age of 21, produced a valiant effort after Buck battled through a physical third changeover which saw two athletes fall.

After receiving the baton from Tobin, Buck stumbled after colliding with Germany's Kamghe Gaba, but stayed on his feet to hand the baton to Rooney on the last leg, who ran a fast 44.29secs to bring the team home.

"It was an eventful race to say the least. We have remained very positive throughout both rounds and everyone did their job, which was great," said Croydon Harrier Rooney.

"The oldest in the team is 23. We are very young and there is a lot to come. It's a big jump from junior to senior level and we have learnt a lot by being here and running here".

Steele added: "We are looking to the future and there's no doubt we are a young team. It would good for us to be peaking in five years' time, in time for London".