Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Lauren Cadden and Sharlene Mawdsley won their heat in of 3:24.81.
THE IRELAND WOMEN’S 4x400m relay team have powered to victory in their heat to qualify for Wednesday night’s final at the European Athletics Championship in Rome.
Advertisement Running from Lane 6, Becker made a typically strong start and put Ireland in a good position. Healy took the baton and surged into second, behind Belgium, and was third for the handover. Cadden, making her major championships debut, held that position but dropped slightly back to third on the home straight. And Mawdsley again held her nerve; spotting a gap on the inside on the final bend, taking it, and powering home in first.
Similarly, with the top three teams from each of the two heats earning automatic qualification for the decider, and the two next-fastest teams from either heat also advancing, a top-five finish in the first semi-final kept alive Ireland’s chances of making the final. Jack Raftery led out Ireland in the first leg of their semi but the handover between him and Chris O’Donnell left the mixed-relay hero with additional work to do as Britain, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland pulled further clear.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
European gold medal is 'everything I’ve ever dreamed of'Mawdsley led Ireland to victory in Rome last night.
Read more »
Ireland win gold in 4x400m mixed relay at European Athletics ChampionshipsTeam of Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley finish top in Rome
Read more »
Ireland win gold at Euros 4x400m mixed relay after stellar performanceIreland sent a warning statement to the rest of the world with a stellar final at the European Championships.
Read more »
Rhasidat Adeleke: ‘I just feel it was our turn to win a championship medal’Ireland win gold in 4x400m mixed relay at European Athletics Championships
Read more »
Mixed 4x400m relay team swoop home for European goldThe mixed 4x400m relay team of Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr & Sharlene Mawdsley have won a gold medal for Ireland at the European Athletics Championships.
Read more »
Women's 400m European final LIVE updates as Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley race for goldRhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley will both take place in the Women's 400m final at the European Championships this evening.
Read more »