Rhasidat Adeleke left it late but delivered when it mattered most, clocking 22.80 seconds to win the 200m national title at Santry and seal her place at the European Championships in the process.
The Dublin-born sprint star had been chasing the qualifying standard and this was her final shot at it. She nailed it. The time was enough to take the national crown and tick the box for the Europeans, wrapping up what had been a nervy wait for confirmation of her spot on the continental stage.
Adeleke crossed the line ahead of Lauren Roy, who pushed hard but could not match the pace of Ireland’s standout track athlete. It was the kind of performance that reminds everyone why Adeleke is considered one of the most exciting sprinters this country has ever produced.
The 22-year-old has been building her reputation over recent years, splitting her time between competing for Ireland and her studies and athletics career at the University of Texas. She has consistently shown she can mix it with the best in the world, and this run at Santry was another statement moment on home soil.
The evening was not without its worrying moments though. Sharlene Mawdsley, one of Ireland’s most experienced sprinters, pulled up during the race with what appeared to be an injury. The nature and severity of it was not immediately confirmed, but her withdrawal mid-race will have raised concerns among fans and team management alike, particularly with a busy summer of competition ahead.
Mawdsley has been a consistent performer on the Irish athletics scene for years and any setback at this stage of the season would be a blow, both for her personally and for the wider Irish sprint squad heading into the European Championships.
For Adeleke though, the night was all about relief and satisfaction. Getting over that qualifying line with your final attempt takes nerve, and she showed plenty of it. The Europeans now await, and if her recent form is anything to go by, she will be going there with serious ambitions rather than just making up the numbers.
Santry has a long history of producing big moments in Irish athletics, and this was another one to add to the list. The home crowd got exactly what they came to see from Adeleke, and she delivered with the kind of composed, powerful run that has become her trademark.
All eyes will now turn to how she lines up at the European Championships and whether she can translate this national title form onto the bigger stage. Based on what she showed at Santry, there is every reason to be optimistic.