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22nd Aug 2023

Rhasidat Adeleke reaches Women’s World Championship 400m final after stunning performance

Sophie Collins

Rhasidat Adeleke

Rhasidat Adeleke put on another outstanding performance.

The 20-year-old athlete qualified for the Women’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Monday evening.

She is the first Irish person to qualify for a world sprint final in 14 years.

The incredibly talented star sailed into the semis with her performance in the heat on Sunday, and managed to clinch victory with a time of 50.80.

She then posted another impressive performance on the board in her semi-final to take second place with a time of 49.87.

The Tallaght native, who has taken nearly 1.5s off the 400m Irish record in just one year, will compete in Wednesday’s final at 8.35pm.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the race, Adeleke evem admitted that she felt she was overly conservative in the early stages of the race.

“I was probably too comfortable in the first 200 metres,” she said.

“I need to start using my 200 metre speed.

“I had to work too hard in my last 200, but that’s something I’m going to use in the next race.”

The final takes place at 8.35pm Irish time on Wednesday, August 23rd, and Adeleke is the fifth fastest qualifier.