Ireland mixed relay team power into World Championships
Ireland powered through to the final of the 4x400m mixed relay at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.
And as a result, it takes the team into the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
Competing in a strong heat alongside one of the favourites, USA, Conor Kelly took the baton from the gun and ran a solid opening leg before handing to Rhasidat Adeleke for the second lap.
And the Tallaght athlete rans a very composed 400m to work her way right into the plum placings before handing to Cillín Greene who maintained a strong position allowing Ireland to attack on the final lap.
It was the experienced Sharlene Mawdsley who took on the responsibility to take Ireland into the top two to secure safe passage to Sunday's event and more importantly the upcoming World Championships.
And it was a perfect closing 400m from Mawdsley who paced herself beautifully to work herself into second place and comfortably came home ahead of Poland with just the USA ahead.
Ireland time of 3:12.56 was around two and a half seconds slower than the national record of 3:09.92, which was set at the European Championships in Rome last summer.
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