Team Ireland produce polished performance to seal mixed relay final berth in Guangzhou
The Irish mixed 4x400m team of Conor Kelly, Rhasidat Adeleke, Cillín Greene and Sharlene Mawdsley secured World Championship qualification and a place in the final at the World Relays with a polished performance to finish second in the first round in Guangzhou, China today.
Another superb last leg from Mawdsley carried them into the automatic qualification spots for the final, and with that ensuring their place in Tokyo, as they hit the line second in 3:12.56, with USA taking a comfortable victory in 3:11.37 and Poland third with 3:12.70.
'I'm so happy with that,' said Mawdsley, who showed no ill effects from the hamstring injury she sustained at the European Indoors in March. 'I was actually quite happy I got the baton in third, I had something to work towards. Top two was auto Q and I ticked the box and I was put in such a great position. I was delighted to overtake on the bend and hold on to second.'
Adeleke got off to a cautious start on the second leg before shifting through the gears over the latter half to haul the team up to second at halfway.
'I was making sure I put the team in the best position,' she said. 'It's definitely still early in the season for me, but I'm really excited to be here and we have our qualification for Tokyo –that's what we came here for. I'm really proud of the team.'
She said that it's 'always an honour to represent team Ireland and putting on that vest just has so much to it,' adding: 'I hope we can come back here tomorrow and do the same thing.'
Kelly led the team off with a solid opening leg, the 17-year-old undaunted on the senior global stage despite his youth.
'It was a strong heat, having USA and Poland in the heat is not easy, so to go in and take it out is good,' he said.
Greene, an experienced member of the mixed relay team who lined up at the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, said: 'I'm happy, it was my first race in a while, since indoors. We had a good holding camp in Hong Kong and it's nice to get the qualification. Everybody went out and did their job – we couldn't ask any more for the team.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
‘I feel like I've thrown everything out there' – Emily Murphy one of four Irish players to share €30k Sky bursary
This has been quite a significant week in the educational life of Irish striker Emily Murphy – both on and off the pitch. After clinching a last-minute winner for Carla Ward's side in Istanbul's great escape last Friday, she firmly established herself as a potential first-choice pick in Cork last night, delivering a powerful performance on both flanks in the 1-0 victory against Slovenia.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘I feel like I've thrown everything out there' – Emily Murphy one of four Irish players to share €30k bursary from Sky
This has been quite a significant week in the educational life of Irish striker Emily Murphy – both on and off the pitch. After clinching a last-minute winner for Carla Ward's side in Istanbul's great escape last Friday, she firmly established herself as a potential first-choice pick in Cork last night, delivering a powerful performance on both flanks in the 1-0 victory against Slovenia.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Irish Paralympian champions adaptive fashion
Reporting by Dee Makofane Irish Paralympian Ellen Keane is championing the importance of adaptive clothing options for people with disabilities. Adaptive clothes are specially designed to meet a person's dressing needs, and include things like magnetic buttons and side zips. However, stylish and affordable options have not always been widely available. "I have so many friends with different types of disabilities and I know the struggles they have trying to find fashion that not only suits them and fits their needs, but is also fashionable. "Adaptive fashion just gives people the freedom and confidence and dignity that everyone deserves." Keane was Ireland's youngest ever athlete at 13 when she competed at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. She won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games and retired after her fifth and final Paralympics in Paris last year. She was speaking today at an event in Dublin organised by Penneys. The retailer launched a range of adaptive clothing earlier this year and has committed to making its stores more accessible for everyone. "I remember, as a young girl, realising I'd have to figure out how to put on a bra with one hand - it was terrifying. I'm a 30-year-old woman now and sometimes I need to ask my boyfriend to tie my buttons. That's taking away my independence and that's kind of embarrassing. "Adaptive fashion gives me my dignity back. It gives me the power. Every disabled person deserves the right to wear what they want to wear and have the independence while wearing it," Keane said.
