DAY 1 EVENING SESSION: SIXTH IN THE WORLD FOR IRISH 4x400M RELAY TEAM
The Irish 4x400m relay team of Jack Raftery, Sophie Becker, Christopher O'Donnell, and Sharlene Mawdsley have secured a top six finish in 3:14.13 to round out a superb opening day for Team Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Aug 19th).
The result, which ranks as the best ever finish by an Irish relay team at a global outdoor (senior) championships, continues a remarkable run for the mixed relay team which has also seen them claim top-eight finishes at both the World Championships in Oregon last year, as well as in the Olympics in Tokyo 2021.
Speaking after the race, Sligo’s Christopher O’Donnell said: “We’ve been here so many times now (making finals), at the start it was a big shock but now we’re really looking to step it up. Tonight we really weren’t far off a medal and there is so much potential as a squad and in the athletes that are not here. We’re laid the foundations and now we really want to push on”.
Relay squad members Roisin Harrison and Callum Baird played important roles in this week’s preparations and are going to continue to be key members of future relay success.
A dramatic finish to the race saw the medals go the way of United States 3:08.80 WR, Great Britain & NI 3:11.06 NR, and Czech Republic 3:11.98 NR.
Today’s evening session also witnessed a successful outing from Irish 1500m record holder Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) who finished in a comfortable 6th place in 3:34.75 to book his place in tomorrow’s semi-final.
UCD’s Luke McCann was caught by a fast-finishing pack in his 1500m heat, just missing out on one of the automatic qualifying spots having looked very comfortable heading into the final lap. The race, which turned into a sprint from the final bend saw McCann cross the finish in 3:47.48 for 10th place.
Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) lined up alongside Olympic Champion Jacob Ingebrigtsen in the first of today’s 1500m heats finishing 12th in 3:40.72 to mark another huge milestone in his development. The two-time European U20 track medallist has enjoyed another record-breaking season and this week’s experience will stand greatly to the Tyrone teenager whose trajectory continues to be on an upward curve.
Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s AC) rounded out her busy opening day with a best of 13.47m in the shot put, followed by a 24.78 season’s best in the 200m to head into tomorrow’s final day in 11th position on 3684 points.
Day 1 Morning Results Summary
- David Kenny – Men’s 20km Race Walk – DNF
- Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification – 19.65m (23rd)
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 100m Hurdles – 13.57 PB
- Mixed 4x400m Relay – Round One – 3:13.90 SB q
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon High Jump – 1.80m SB
- Ciara Mageean – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:03.52 Q
- Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:03.00 Q
- Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:02.15 PB (25th)
- Nick Griggs – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:40.72 (40th)
- Luke McCann – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:47.48 (52nd)
- Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:34.75 Q
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Shot Put –13.47m
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 200m – Heats – 24.78 SB
- Mixed 4x400m Relay – Final – 3:14.13 (6th)
Day 2 - Sunday August 20th
The second day of these championships promises to another busy one for the Irish in Budapest with seven athletes set to compete across the morning and afternoon sessions.
Leading out Team Ireland on day two will be Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) and Irish record holder Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) who will both be looking to advance to Monday’s semi-finals.
Relay star Christopher O’Donnell (North Sligo AC) will also return for his 400m heat and like Mawdsley, he too will hope to have recovered sufficiently following today’s world final exertions.
Kate O’Connor will be back in the stadium in the morning for the long jump and javelin, before signing off her competition in the 800m tomorrow evening.
Come 4pm tomorrow all eyes will very much turn to the Irish 1500m trio of Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn), Sarah Healy (UCD AC), and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) as they take to their respective semi-final start lines.
Morning – Sunday August 20th Irish Time (Local Time)
- Sharlene Mawdsley – Women’s 400m – Heat 1 – 08:35 (09:35)
- Rhasidat Adeleke – Women’s 400m – Heat 5 – 09:07 (10:07)
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Long Jump – 08:50 (09:50)
- Christopher O’Donnell – Men’s 400m – Heat 5 - 09:57 (10:57)
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Javelin – Group A – 11:00 (12:00)
OR
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Javelin – Group B – 12:05 (13:05)
Evening – Sunday August 20th
- Ciara Mageean Women’s 1500m – Semi-Final 1 – 16:05 (17:05)
- Sarah Healy Women’s 1500m – Semi-Final 1 – 16:17 (17:17)
- Andrew Coscoran Men’s 1500m – Semi-Final – 16:35 (17:35)
- Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 800m – 17:00 (18:00)
NOTES