The BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sports) Great Britain and Northern Ireland team captured their first athletics medal of the World University Games on Friday as Jonny Davies (coach: Rob McKim, University of Birmingham) claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 1500m.

Davies ran an impressive race in Taipei’s stadium, consolidating a place on the podium over the last lap and as he sprinted for the line it was just a matter of what colour it would be. As Germany’s Timo Benitz stole a march in the closing stages to take the gold; Davies and France’s Alexis Miellet were joined in battle for the silver. With both straining every sinew to reach the line first, the Briton just couldn’t overhaul the Frenchman but took a brilliant bronze medal.

It was a notable victory for the Reading athlete whose last major silverware came at the European cross country championships in 2015 when he took the U23 title. He returns for the 5000m heats tomorrow evening.

Allan Smith (Bryan Roy, Edinburgh College University) was narrowly close to a medal in the men’s high jump, just missing out in fourth place in an entertaining competition. After a successful second attempt at 2.23m, it wasn’t to be at the 2.26m height despite going close on the three attempts. The event was won by Germany’s Falk Henning Wendrich in a personal best of 2.29m.

There was a fifth place for Adelle Tracey (Craig Winrow, St Mary’s) in the women’s 800m. In a scrappy encounter, Tracey initially crossed the line in fifth position with a time of 2:03.72 but the drama ensued soon afterwards. The winner, Rose Almanza Blanco, was briefly disqualified after a protest, moving Tracey up to fourth provisionally, but a couple of hours, the initial outcome of the race was confirmed with the Cuban taking the gold and the Briton settling for fifth.

Elsewhere, Jess Turner (Nick Dakin) was fifth in the women’s 400m hurdles final to complete a very long season for the Loughborough University student. She clocked a time of 57.45 with eventual winner Ayomide Folorunso of Italy crossing the line in 55.63.

Another Briton in finals action was Samuel Trigg (Daniel Hooker) in the men’s triple jump. After registering a leap of 14.94m in round one, Trigg fouled his next two efforts which did not see him progress to three further jumps. With his opening round mark, the New Mexico Uni student placed in 12^th place overall.

Alicia Barrett (Toni Minichiello, Sheffield Hallam University) advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles after posting a time of 13.75 (+0.8) to qualify comfortably in third from heat three. Sadly Jacob Paul (Marina Armstrong, University of Bath) just missed out on a place in his first world university games final by one place, finishing third in his semi-final in 50.37. He was third in the next fastest (after automatic qualifiers) but with only two advancing, he did not progress.

Over in the decathlon, after seven events, John Lane (Minichiello) withdrew during the javelin due to the conditions. After a clocking 15.67 in the 110m hurdles, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Griffith university student. He returned for the discus and threw a modest 39.14m, but did not start the javelin.

Elsewhere, in the pole vault, Charlie Myers (Chris Boundy, Northumbria University) unfortunately had to withdraw due a hamstring injury, meaning he did not take part in the qualifying pools.

The athletics timetable for the World University Games can be found here.

The action is available to watch live here, and there will be daily round-ups of track and field action posted on www.britishathletics.org.uk.