Rhasidat Adeleke has produced another searing one-lap run to secure an automatic place in the semi-finals of the 400 metres on day three of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Running in the fourth of six heats, with only the top three sure of advancing, Adeleke timed her race perfectly too, even though running in lane two, as she finished strongly to nail second place in 51.59 seconds.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic took the win in 50.76, in lane four, with Lynna Irby of the USA third in 51.78, and so also advance to the semi-finals which take place on Wednesday’s evening session in Eugene.
Still only 19, Adeleke on Friday also produced a searing anchor leg to secure Ireland a place in the final of the mixed 4x400 metres.
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Competing in the second heat of Friday’s opening session, Ireland passed off in fourth going into the final leg: Adeleke promptly moved into third, then moved into second off the final bend passing the Jamaican runner Tiffney James to nail second spot behind the Dominican Republic, who took the win in 3:13:22 to Ireland’s 3:13.88, with Jamaica third in 3:13.95.
Adeleke however withdrew from the final later as she was feeling unwell, Ireland ended up in eighth place.
Chris O’Donnell also secured his has secured his place in the men’s 400m semi-finals.
O’Donnell secured one of the six fastest qualifications spots, after coming fourth in his heat with a time of 46.01, to see him through to the semi-finals.
The North Sligo AC athlete produced strong performance throughout the heat, maintaining his position within the top three coming into the final 100m, just narrowly missing out on an automatic qualification spot as he came in behind the Dominican Republic’s Lidio Andres Feliz on the line.
Earlier, Sophie Becker ran 52.24 to finish fifth in heat three, just missing out on qualifying as the runner ahead of her, Jamaica’s Charokee Young, qualified as a fastest loser with her 51.84.
At home, Israel Olatunde of UCD AC starred National Junior and U23 Championships, smashing his own Irish U23 100m record with a stunning 10.24 in the blisteringly hot conditions.
