Stunning Rhasidat holds three fastest times in Texas history

RHASIDAT Adeleke has claimed a silver medal in the 400m final at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico reports Hayden Moore.

In the split final on Saturday evening, the Tallaght Athletic Club runner who is representing the University of Texas, ran a 50.45 time.

Adeleke topped the first heat, but was denied gold by American runner Britton Wilson, who was running in heat two and recorded the fastest NCAA time and second fastest indoor time in history with 49.48.

Interestingly, Adeleke’s first lap of 23.07 was quicker than the opening 200m time posted by Femke Bol (23.63) when she smashed the 400m indoor record with a time of 49.26 in February.

Now in the second year of her scholarship in the University of Texas, Adeleke now holds the three fastest times in Texas history.

Under the tutelage of University of Texas coach Edrick Floréal, Adeleke started training in the 400m late last year and has excelled over the distance.

In February, Adeleke smashed a 21-year-old national record at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic with a time of 50.45.

A few weeks later, at the Big 12 Conference final, the 20-year-old set the bar even higher, breaking her own national record with an improved time of 50.33.

While Adeleke has been focused on improving her 400m over the last six-months, the former Presentation Community College student is still impeccable over 200m.

In January, Adeleke set out her stall for the year by setting a new Irish indoor record time of 22.52, besting her previous record and clocking a world-leading time.

Since moving to Texas, Adeleke now holds indoor records over 60m, 200m and 400m, whilst also holding the 200m and 400m outdoor equivalents.

After qualifying for the NCAA 400m decider last Friday, Michael Johnson, the American four-time Olympic gold medalist across 200m, 400m and 4x400m, offered some insight into Adeleke’s potential.

“Look out when she learns to use those arms,” Johnson said on social media.

“She’s carrying them instead using them to drive the legs.

“The difference is significant over 400. Helps increase speed and reduce fatigue.”

Having only started running the 400m late last year, Adeleke is very much focused on progress despite her success over the distance already.

When speaking to The Echo after being named The Echo 2022 Sports Star of the Year, Adeleke spoke of how qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris next year is at the forefront of her mind.

“My short term goals are just to remain focused and continue to work on my progress,” Adeleke told The Echo in January.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the Olympic Games.

“They’re right around the corner so ultimately everything I’m doing now is preparing me for that.

“Keeping my goals at the front of my mind helps me stay focused and grounded,” she says.

“I’m a competitor and I’ve always wanted to succeed at everything I do.

“ That alone gives me enough motivation.

“There’s also the fact that I’m not only doing it for myself, I want to make my family, friends and the rest of Ireland proud.

“Especially people who look up to me, I want to set a great example.”

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