Inside Sharlene Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke's time sampling Chinese life while representing Ireland at World Relays
SHARLENE Mawdsley and Rhasidat Adeleke once again led the way as Team Ireland's sprinters had a successful time at the World Relays.
Over the course of the meet, the mixed relay quartet
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They initially geared up for the championships by doing a week's training in Hong Kong
Credit: @sharlenem1
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Before heading on to Guangzhou where they competed for the women's and mixed relay teams
Credit: @rhasidat_adeleke
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Unwinding for an evening out with Team GB ace Amy Hunt
Credit: @sharlenem1
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Sharlene joked 'Don't think I'll be trying this' after coming across cloud ear fungus while browsing a food market
Credit: @sharlenem1
The decision to rest Adeleke and Mawdsley was taken so that they could focus on helping the women's 4x400m team to similarly qualify for September's showpiece event.
The women's 4x400m team dominated their repechage race to secure their place at Tokyo 2025 with a winning time of 3:24.69.
Sophie Becker led off from lane seven and delivered a strong opening leg before handing over to Adeleke, who maintained Ireland's advantage.
Rachel McCann held the lead until the final exchange in the third leg where Australia edged ahead.
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Tipperary native Mawdsley anchored the team and timed her finish perfectly, kicking on in the last 200m to seal victory.
Afterwards Becker, 27, spoke of their "relief" as a foursome at having sealed their place in the Japanese capital later this year.
She emphasized: 'I'm so relieved, I think I speak for all of us when I say that.
'It was a great box to tick getting the mixed qualified and now to come out here and get the second team qualified for Tokyo is such a relief.
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"We're really excited to see what the summer brings now.'
Dubliner Adeleke added: 'We've solidified ourselves as one of the best relays in the world and we're just continuing that on.'
'My hardest goodbye' - Sharlene Mawdsley jets off after 'hectic two days' saw passport drama nearly cancel China trip
Regarding her showing on Saturday for the mixed relay 4x400m side, the 22-year-old continued: 'I was just making sure I put my team in the best position.
'It's still early in the season for me, but I'm excited to be here to have secured qualification.
"That's what we came here for and I'm really proud of the team.'
The mixed 4x400m team of Jack Raftery, Phil Healy, Aaron Keane and Lauren Cadden finished eighth in their respective final.
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A gorgeous view of Victoria Harbour that Mawdsley shared on Instagram
Credit: @sharlenem1
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A snap of the track that was their training base while in Hong Kong
Credit: @sharlenem1
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Temperatures soared beyond 30 degrees during their stay
Credit: @sharlenem1
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The Hong Kong Sports Institute would've offered some respite from the heat at least
Credit: @sharlenem1
But they were safe in the knowledge that qualification had already been confirmed in Saturday's heats. The team finished with a time of 3:19.64.
The men's 4x400m team finished seventh in their heat in a time of 3:04.42 which was not enough to secure qualification.
Starting from lane two, Conor Kelly led them away with Cillín Greene keeping Ireland in contention early.
Chris O'Donnell and Raftery could not close the gap in the final laps, leaving them outside of the qualification places.
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The Ireland women's 4x400m team won their heat on Saturday which thereby secured qualification to September's World Athletics Championships
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