Rhasidat Adeleke has eye on breaking Irish 100m record

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke will race the 100m at this weekend’s 123.ie National Championships in Santry, her final race on Irish soil before the Olympics. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

One last stop at home, and Rhasidat Adeleke intends to make it a fast one. The 21-year-old Dubliner will race the 100m at this weekend’s 123.ie National Championships in Santry, her final race on Irish soil before the Olympics.

It’s a chance for the European 400m silver medallist to meet her growing legions of fans, a chance to claim another national title. But it’s also a chance to claim something she doesn’t yet have. “One of the records she really wants, it’s no secret, is that Irish 100m record,” said her coach Edrick Floreal earlier this year.

The Canadian has put a huge focus on improving Adeleke’s sprint mechanics this year and the results are visible, Floreal adding: “It’s a thing of beauty when she does it well.” 

Her 100m PB is the 11.31 she ran in 2021, but Adeleke clocked a blazing 10.84 in Texas in April, which didn’t stand as a national record due to the tailwind of 3.5m/s, well over the legal limit of 2.0. Nonetheless, Adeleke will have to be on her A-game to take gold on Sunday given the likely presence of Sarah Lavin, who will compete in the 100m hurdles tomorrow. Lavin did the golden double at nationals last year and went on to break Phil Healy’s Irish 100m record by clocking 11.27 in Switzerland. That’s the sole Irish sprint record not held by Adeleke.

Given Morton Stadium typically has a home-straight headwind, many were hoping Athletics Ireland would run the sprints down the back straight if the usual conditions prevail so athletes could clock faster times and accrue more world ranking points, but the chair of competition Andrew Lynam said that won’t be possible this weekend due to insufficient technical personnel and equipment.

Ciara Mageean will miss nationals for a fifth consecutive year. She released a statement yesterday saying she has been dealing with fatigue following her magnificent 1500m gold in Rome earlier this month: “This decision was not made lightly, but it is crucial to prioritise my recovery at this time. I need to focus on getting back to full health to ensure I can put in the hard training sessions necessary to compete with the best in the world.” 

Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan served up a riveting duel in last year’s 1500m final and the rematch could be on if both toe the line again. They’re both already qualified for Paris but several others will look to join them when the qualification window closes on Sunday night.

Chief among them is Thomas Barr, who’s currently 38th on the Road to Paris rankings, with 40 set to qualify. A swift time in Sunday’s 400m hurdles final would ensure a place at his third Olympics. Nicola Tuthill is also just inside the cutoff in 31st, with 32 places available in the women’s hammer, as is Sophie Becker in the 400m (46th of 48); Eric Favors in the shot put (29th of 32); and Luke McCann (37th) and Cathal Doyle (43rd) in the 1500m, where 44 spots are available. Kate O’Connor is also within the quota for the heptathlon (22nd of 24).

The in-form Jodie McCann could qualify for Paris if she wins the women’s 5000m in a decent time on Sunday – she’s currently 50th on the rankings, with 42 places on offer. Reece Ademola will look to unleash a big effort in the men’s long jump. The Leevale athlete is currently 37th on the rankings list with 32 set to qualify.

With most finals on Sunday, the women’s 100m hurdles, women’s 200m and men’s 5000m look the main draws tomorrow. Sharlene Mawdsley will square off with Phil Healy in the 200m while Brian Fay takes on Efrem Gidey, Cormac Dalton, Seán Tobin and Keelan Kilrehill over 5000m. Becker, Healy and Mawdsley look certain to be selected for the mixed relay in Paris but the men’s 400m final could well decide who joins them, with Chris O’Donnell facing Jack Raftery, Cillín Greene and Callum Baird.

Both days will be streamed on Athletics Ireland’s YouTube channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 12.45-2.30pm on Sunday. Entrance for adults is €11 each day or €17 for a two-day ticket. U-16s go free.