Sophie Becker's 400m run comes to an end, Marcus Lawler progresses

It was a semi-final won in 49.57 by Natalia Bukowiecka, the Polish sprinter who beat Rhasidat Adeleke to European gold and Olympic bronze two summers ago.

Ireland’s Sophie Becker finishes eighth. Pic: Morgan Treacy

Irish interest in the women’s 400m came to an end at the semi-final stage as Sophie Becker was unable to improve on the season’s best time that had taken her out of the heats.

In an event where Ireland had expected to feature prominently both in the final and on the podium, injury prevented 2024 European silver medalist Rhasidat Adeleke and the fifth-ranked Sharlene Mawdsley from getting to the one-lap blocks in Birmingham, and so it was left to Becker alone to carry the tricolour.