Name: Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrocks AC), Rachel McCann (North Down AC), Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC), Cillian Green (Galway City Harriers) and Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers AC)
Event: Mixed 4x400m Relay
Personal Best: 3:09.92 NR ER
Tokyo Schedule: Sat 13 September 3.40am
TOKYO UPDATE
The mixed relay team finished 6th in what was by far the fastest heat of the two, with five out of the eight qualifiers coming from this heat. Jack Raferty ran a strong first leg passing the baton to Sophie Becker with the team in contention for qualifying. Becker stayed with the group, but unfortunately the early pace proved too much as lactic filled her legs over the final 30m. Conor Kelly chased hard, closing the gap somewhat. Sharlene Mawdsley ran her usual relay brilliance as she battled with Germany's Elisa Lechleitner down the home straight, both passing a fast fading Leah Anderson (Jamacia). Mawdsley won the battle and took Ireland into 6th place. Ireland clocked 3:13.59 to finish 11th overall.
Background
The mixed 4x400m made its first appearance at a Major Championship in 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The quartet of Cillian Greene, Sophie Becker, Phil Healy and Chris O’Donnell finished 8th in the final, with the sign of some exciting prospects to come. The following year at the World Championships in Oregon, the quartet of Christopher O'Donnell, Sophie Becker, Jack Raftery and Sharlene Mawdsley once again finished 8th. Mawdsley coming on as a sub for Rhasidat Adeleke who fell ill before the final. How times have changed with Mawdsley now establishing herself firmly as a significant anchor leg on the team.
It was 6th place for the same team at the World Championships in Budapest, again without Adeleke but significantly their placing with her absence indicated the potential for the team with the Tallaght ACs presence on it.
Fast forward to the Bahamas and the World Relays in 2024 when Adeleke lined up alongside Sharlene Mawdsley, Cillian Green and Thomas Barr to bring the team to that sensational bronze medals. The 48.45 split from Adeleke had the eyes of the world focused on the young Texas based sprinter.
Nothing can take from that golden moment in Rome when Sharlene Mawdsley defied all odds and had even the brilliant Femke Bol trailing in her wake. It was Irelands first gold medal at a European Championships since 1998. The entire nation was on its feet. A 49.53 split from Adeleke and a 49.40 split from Mawdsley was an exceptional display of running, with strong back-up from Thomas Barr and Chris O’Donnell.
Earlier this year in China, the team of Conor Kelly, Rhasidat Adeleke, Cillian Greene and Sharlene Mawdsley finished second in their relay heat, thereby securing qualification for these world championships. Even without Adeleke we can expect another inspirational display of running from the Irish quartet in Tokyo in what will be their third World Championship appearance
International Majors
2021: Olympic Games Tokyo 8th Final
2022: World Championships Oregon 8th Final
2024: World Relays Bahamas 3rd Final
2024: European Championships Rome 1st Final ER NR
2024: Olympic Games Paris 5th SF
2025: World Relays China 2nd Heat (Auto Q for Worlds)
2025: World Championships Tokyo H1 6th
Personal Bests
Mixed 4x400m Relay: 3:09.92 NR 7/6/2024