Adeleke secures World 400m semi-final berth

TALLAGHT’S Rhasidat Adeleke will be racing in the World Athletics Championship 400m semi-final later this week after qualifying comfortably from her heat in Oregon.

The 19-year-old Tallaght AC star fought back from a somewhat sluggish start to her race to finish second behind Olympic silver medallist, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic in a time of 51.59.

Securing one of the three automatic qualification berths, Adeleke will be very much encouraged by this performance after having been forced to withdraw from the final of the Mixed 4x400m Relay earlier in the weekend due to illness.

Combining with Sophie Becker, Christopher O’Donnell and Donore Harriers athlete, Jack Raftery, in that event, Adeleke served up a stunning heat performance as Ireland finished second to the Dominican Republic who continued on to clinch gold in the final itself.

Ireland found themselves in fourth place by the time Adeleke took the baton, but the Tallaght woman burst ahead of two-time World Championship relay medallist, Tiffany James of Jamaica and earned Ireland second spot.

Illness unfortunately ruled the former Presentation Terenure student out of competing in the medal race as Sharlene Mawdsley took her spot and Ireland eventually finished up eighth.