The Ireland mixed 4x400m relay team, from left, Thomas Barr, Sharlene Mawdsley, Cillín Greene and Rhasidat Adeleke
With an athlete like Rhasidat Adeleke, you always have a chance. At the World Relays in the Bahamas last night, the 21-year-old Dubliner turned in the performance of her life to help the Irish mixed 4x400m team to bronze medals, taking another giant leap towards the top of the world.
It was a showing of collective brilliance from the Irish quartet, yet there was no doubt who shone brightest. After taking the baton from Cillín Greene, Adeleke produced a mind-boggling 48.45-second split to hoist her team from fourth to second, and with two strong legs from Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley to follow, the Irish smashed the national record they’d set a day earlier, clocking 3:11.53 to finish behind USA (3:10.73) and the Netherlands (3:11.45).