Adeleke and Ireland team mates hold their own at World Relays in Japan
Tallaght Athletic Club’s Rhasidat Adeleke was part of the Irish Women’s 4x100m Relay team that finished 10th overall at the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama last weekend.
She, together with her training partner Patience Jumbo Gula and other compatriots, Ciara Neville, Gina Akpe Moses, Niamh Whelan and Lauren Roy, made up the youngest team at these championships with an average age of 18.
And while the fastest 10 teams secured qualification for the World Track and Field Championships in Doha in the Autumn, Ireland just missed out on the cut by the fact that Ghana, who had a slower time than them, qualified for the final after finishing second in a slower heat.
Indeed the top two in each of the three heats progressed through to the final with Ireland’s heat also providing the two fastest losers.
Their time of 44.02 was just off their national record of 43.80 and Ireland team manager Daniel Kilgallon pointed out “it’s very early in the season to be running such a fast time.
“Athletes usually peak in July or August so there’s plenty more to be shaved off that time” he insisted.
The team may well get the opportunity to do that and perhaps qualify for the World Championships, possibly at a Diamond League meet in Switzer-land or the European Team Championships in August.
As for now, Adeleke and her Tallaght clubmates Joseph Ojewumi and Eoin Doherty as well as DSD’s Kate Doherty will be gear-ing up for the IFAM Oordegem Meet in Belgium on May 25/26 when they will be hoping to clock standards for the European Championships.
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