Euro gold for Ireland after stellar relay performance
WHAT a night in Rome as Ireland’s mixed 4x400m relay team won gold at the European Athletics Championships.
Ireland’s relay team of Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley swooped over the line in a time of 3:09:92, a championship record for a historic win.
Since the European Athletics Championships started 90 years ago, Ireland have had only one gold medal winner, Sonia O’Sullivan.
However four more names have now been added to the list following Friday’s stellar performance.
Among the mix is Tallaght runner Rhasidat Adeleke, who, after receiving the baton from O’Donnell, clocked a powerful 49.53 second split before handing to Barr.
Here’s how Ireland won a truly magnificent gold at the European Athletics Championships. A superb performance from Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr & Sharlene Mawdsley ?☘️☘️☘️ #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/UecAR2znpZ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 7, 2024
After storming a 44.90 run, Barr had Ireland in second place when passing the baton to Mawdsley, who bided her time before an inspired sprint to gold (49.40).
Speaking with RTE Sport after the win, Adeleke said: “It means so much because we knew what we could do as a team, we were really strong…it felt like it was our turn, to win a championship medal at senior level.
“We’ve worked so hard, we really trust each other as a team, and that showed on the track today.”
Success for Israel Olatunde
There was also success for Tallaght Athletic Club’s Israel Olatunde who last night ran a season’s best time of 10.31 seconds to reach the semi-finals of the men’s 100m at the championships.
Olatunde came home third and will contest the semis today (Saturday) at 8.10pm.
“I feel good; I just want to come out here, give a good performance and get through the rounds,” Olatunde told RTE Sport afterwards.
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