Super-sub Mawdsley powers Ireland into 4x400m world final

Mawdsley had not been due to run the event, having raced the 400m final on Monday night, but came to the stadium in case she was needed, and she was drafted in late after Kelly McGrory withdrew during the warm-up.

ALL SMILES: Ireland’s Sophie Becker and Sharlene Mawdsley after the race. Pic: Morgan Treacy, Inpho

Sharlene Mawdsley produced another masterful anchor leg to power the Irish women's 4x400m team to victory in the heats at the European Championships in Rome on Tuesday morning, clocking the second-fastest time in history by an Irish quartet, 3:24.81.

That was behind only the 3:24.38 Ireland ran at the World Relays in The Bahamas last month, where Rhasidat Adeleke was part of the line-up.