Advertisement
Rhasidat Adeleke celebrates an Irish record in her first ever senior international final. Tom Maher/INPHO
star in waiting

Rhasidat Adeleke breaks Irish 400m record with fifth-placed finish in European final

In a brilliant run, the 19-year-old broke her own national record by 0.17 seconds and was in medal contention until the final stretch.

IRELAND’S RHASIDAT ADELEKE broke her own Irish 400m record in a superb fifth-placed finish in the 400m final at the European Championships in Munich.

The 19-year-old Dubliner, up against it in Lane 1, left nothing on the track and was in medal contention until the final 30 metres when she faded slightly back to fifth, two tenths of a second off a medal spot.

In her 49th race of the season, Adeleke crossed the whitewash in a time of 50.53, breaking the national record of 50.70 that she set back in May.

Dutch superstar and last year’s European indoor champion Femke Bol clocked a PB of 49.44 to take gold ahead of Polish duo Natalia Kaczmarek (49.94) and Anna Kielbasinska (50.29). Britain’s Victoria Ohuruogu was fourth, two hundreths of a second ahead of Adeleke.

Tallaght woman Adeleke had initially intended to bring an end to a long and fruitful 2022 campaign following a ninth-placed finish at the Worlds in Oregon last month, but cancelled a holiday to Mexico in order to extend her efforts as far as this week’s Europeans.

A relative newcomer to tonight’s event, Adeleke is already the fastest ever Irishwoman over 60, 200, 300 and 400 metres and was a double gold-medal winner over 100 and 200 at last year’s European U20s in Talinn.

She is also a close friend and training partner of Israel Olatunde, who broke Paul Hession’s Irish record in a sixth-placed finish in last night’s men’s 100m final.

Adeleke intends to compete as part of the Irish 4x400m relay team on Friday in what will be her 50th race of the season.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
23
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel