Ireland's Rhasidat Adeleke powers into world 400m final

QUALIFIED: Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland crosses the finish line to qualify for the women's 400m final during day three of the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

This had long seemed her destiny, and now it’s her reality. Rhasidat Adeleke will line up for the world 400m final on Wednesday after finishing second in her semi-final in Budapest on Monday night, a race won by Marileidy Paulino in 49.54.

Adeleke’s time of 49.87 was a big step forward from the 50.80 she ran in Sunday’s heats, comfortable and all as that had been. The Tallaght sprinter becomes the first Irish sprint finalist at the World Championships for 14 years – since David Gillick and Derval O’Rourke in Berlin 2009.