Aigboboh breaks Irish 200m record as Adeleke opens outdoor season

The 20-year-old Dubliner took victory in his section ahead of US sprinter Jaelyn Reeves-Lile.

Rhasidat Adeleke opened her outdoor season in Austin, Texas. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Tallaght sprinter Sean Aigboboh blasted to an Irish 200m record of 20.27 at the Cameron Burrell Invitational in Houston, Texas, on Thursday evening, the 20-year-old taking victory in his section ahead of US sprinter Jaelyn Reeves-Lile (20.58).

Aided by a 2.0m/s tailwind, the maximum allowed for record purposes, Aigboboh dipped under the previous national senior record of 20.30 set by Paul Hession in 2007, his run also smashing the Irish U-23 record of 20.51 by Robert McDonnell.

Aigboboh came through the ranks at Tallaght AC, where he was coached by Daniel Kilgallon, and clocked 10.39 for 100m at the age of 18 before reaching the 100m semi-finals at the World U-20 Championships. He finished second in the national 100m final last year and was also part of the Irish team that broke the national 4x100m record, clocking 38.88. He has since enrolled at the University of Houston.

Elsewhere, Rhasidat Adeleke opened her outdoor season in Austin, Texas, the Dubliner winning her section of the 200m in 22.86 (0.8m/s). Her training partner Julien Alfred was quickest overall, clocking 21.86 in a different race. Adeleke is on the entry lists for the 100m at the same meeting today, while she will race her first 400m since last summer when lining up at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 16.

This weekend, the chief focus will be on the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, where Ireland has teams in the women’s 4x100m, women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m. The top six teams in the mixed 4x400m will earn a spot at the World Ultimate Championship in September, while the top 12 teams in each event will qualify for next year’s World Championships in Beijing.

Back at home, Killian Mooney will return to defend his men’s title in the Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon on Sunday, a sold-out event that will see 13,200 take to the streets of the capital.

Mooney’s clubmate at Dundrum South Dublin, Paul O’Donnell, should provide stiff opposition while Irish international Sean Tobin and last year’s runner-up Kevin Kelly will also be strong contenders.

Last year’s women’s champion Nichola Sheridan will miss this year’s race, having relocated to Australia, with Meghan Ryan and Maebh Brannigan among the leading contenders. The race will start on O’Connell Street at 8.30am and follow the same course as last year, finishing on Guild Street.