Sizzling anchor leg from Mawdsley carries Irish into world final

Sharlene Mawdsley’s split of 50.14 was the fastest of any anchor runner.

Sat, 19 Aug, 2023 - 12:21

Cathal Dennehy

With a final leg that was as strong as it was scintillating, as astute as it was awesome, Sharlene Mawdsley carried the Irish mixed 4x400m team from seventh to fourth in their heat at the World Championships in Budapest this morning – and into their third straight global final. It capped a superb first session for the Irish, with Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy also marching into the 1500m semi-finals.

Having finished eighth at the Olympics in Tokyo and eighth in last year’s world final, the pressure was on the mixed relay team to reproduce a similar effort here, and they certainly did, the quartet of Jack Raftery, Sophie Becker, Chris O’Donnell and Mawdsley clocking 3:13.90 to edge Jamaica as the eighth-fastest qualifier for tonight’s final, which goes to the line at 8.49pm Irish time.

Mawdsley’s split of 50.14 was the fastest of any anchor runner. “I was just doing my best to get us in position, fourth was the minimum of where we wanted to come and to split what I split, I’m truly delighted,” said the Newport athlete.

“We’ve done it before we know what to do,” said O’Donnell. “We’ve beaten the odds every single time and if we didn’t make the final, we were going to be disappointed.” Becker added: “It doesn’t get old, (being) world finalists. I’m so proud of the team.”

Ciara Mageean, Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan, meanwhile, all turned in superb showings in the women’s 1500m heats, Mageean and Healy advancing to tomorrow’s semi-finals with ease, while O’Sullivan smashed her PB to secure an Olympic qualifier. Mageean was class and composure personified throughout her heat, positioning herself in the top few and striding to the line well within herself, clocking 4:03.52 to finish third, well within the top-six qualification cut-off.

SEMI-FINAL: Ciara Mageean is safely through to the 1500m semi-finals. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

“I came here to get the job done and that’s the first round ticked off,” she said. “You want to leave nothing to chance. I’ll go back, get the fuelling in and get ready for the next round. It’s a different animal, racing championships, with race after race. Recovery is key.”

Healy, meanwhile, looked a far stronger and more confident athlete than she’s been at previous championships, the Dubliner coasting to third place in 4:03.00 just behind world record holder Faith Kipyegon (4:02.62). “I’m really happy with my run and to get to go again tomorrow,” she said. “I knew I was going to go out and try put myself in position, keep it and hold on to it.”

NEXT ROUND: Sarah Healy finished in 3rd place in her 1500m heat to progress to the semi-final. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

O’Sullivan was just edged out of the qualifying spots, finishing eighth in 4:02.15, just 0.7 seconds outside the top six. But the time left her elated, for good reason, going below the Olympic qualifying standard of 4:02.50 and taking five seconds off her PB. “I did all I could do, and I put myself in that spot, in that last 100m, where I could have been there,” she said. “But that’s the fastest I’ve ever run, the best shot I could have given myself, so I’ll just have to come back another time.”

The European U-23 champion was greeted in the mixed zone by her mother, Sonia O’Sullivan, who was thrilled with her performance. “She said I went after it, gave myself the best shot I could,” said Sophie. “I am a little disappointed not to make the semi, but I did all I could do.”

NEW PB: Sophie O'Sullivan finished just outside the top six but she shaved five seconds on her PB and has achieved Olympic Qualification. Pic:©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Asked about the rising tide in Irish 1500m running, Mageean said: “Between the men and women, we’re doing fantastic. It’s great to see us with the full field across the board. Sophie had a fantastic season, making a World Championships at her age with a PB, you can’t ask for more than that. Sarah’s had a fantastic season so we’re in a really good place. I feel very happy with the athletes coming through behind me.”

Mageean and Healy will be back on track for the semi-finals at 4.05pm Irish time on Sunday.

“I feel I’m a different animal (at) these Championships,” said Mageean. “The past two years have really brought me into a new realm of athletics, being up there knowing I deserve to be there. I’ve always known I had the talent, but to be in the shape to be able to execute that, that really gives me confidence. It’s the same plan for the semi-final, get up there and make sure I’m in the top six. It will be narrowed down, even stronger, but I’ve faced fields stronger than this in the Diamond League.”

EIGHTH OVERALL: Kate O'Connor is placed eighth overall in the heptathlon after completely a SB high jump of 1.80m. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Kate O’Connor made a flying start in the heptathlon on her World Championships debut, the Dundalk athlete clocking a PB of 13.57 after a one-hour delay to the programme due to a thunderstorm this morning. She returned to the track later to soar over 1.80m in the high jump, just outside her PB of 1.81m, while going oh-so-close at 1.83m. That leaves her in eighth place, with 2018 points, with five events remaining.

There was disappointment for Eric Favors in the shot put, the national record holder eliminated with a best of 19.65m. Likewise, it was a day to forget for David Kenny in the 20km race walk, the Farranfore trailing near the back of the field when he stepped off the course after 15km.