Adeleke sets third Irish record of the year at Millrose Games

Rhasidat Adeleke blazed through the opening lap and turned for home just ahead of Diggs, but it was the American who had most left in the dying strides, winning in 36.21 to Adeleke’s 36.42.

THIRD RECORD: Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke has broken her third Irish record this year. Pic:  ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

This wasn’t Rhasidat Adeleke at her very best, and nor was she at her happiest as she walked off the track at the Millrose Games in New York last night. Still, it says much about the level the Dubliner has reached that she can feel that way after clocking yet another Irish record – her third of the year.

Defeat, though, is not something Adeleke enjoys, and the national 300m record of 36.42 didn’t appear to soften the blow after she was run down by Talitha Diggs, who preceded her as the NCAA 400m champion.

Adeleke blazed through the opening lap and turned for home just ahead of Diggs, but it was the American who had most left in the dying strides, winning in 36.21 to Adeleke’s 36.42. The Tallaght sprinter’s time was well below her previous best of 36.87 from 2022, and adds to her national records over 60m (7.15) and 200m (22.49) this season. It’s unclear if Adeleke will compete at next month’s World Indoors in Glasgow; she did not stop in the mixed zone after the race.

Elsewhere, Róisín Flanagan of Finn Valley broke the Irish indoor two-mile record at the same meeting, coming home 11th in 9:36.70, a race won by British star Laura Muir in 9:04.84. Her clubmate Mark English impressed in the men’s 800m, the four-time European medallist coming through strongly over the final lap to grab third in 1:46.61. “It was a good race, it was what I needed,” said English. “The plan was to get top three and run a good time and I did those two things so I’m happy with that.” 

English has yet to decide his racing plans for the weeks ahead, but was pleased with his run after an inconsistent winter block, having missed three weeks of training due to illness. “It wasn’t perfect, but I did what I can,” he said. “The top two were very good but I managed to beat the rest so I had that bit of speed, it’s always nice to have a bit of a kick.” 

Andrew Coscoran had a race to forget in the Wanamaker Mile, the Balbriggan native throwing himself into contention over the opening two laps but going backwards thereafter, coming home 12th in 4:01.69, saying he felt “a bit off”.

Britain’s Josh Kerr turned in a superb performance in the men’s two-mile, smashing Mo Farah’s world best by three seconds and clocking 8:00.67. Asked what is motivating him, he said: “If I talk enough smack, I have to back up some of the stuff. I want to push the boundaries. It doesn’t matter how much money I make; it’s doing what I thought I could do, which is being the best in the world.” 

Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas set a world record in the 60m hurdles of 7.67. “When I saw that clock, I felt relief,” she said. “When you set a goal and work towards it all year, and then you achieve it, it makes you feel you're on top of the world.”