4x400m relay team set Irish record while booking place in final

It was a session to remember for Team Ireland on day 3 of the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow Sunday morning, with the women’s 4x400m relay team booking their place in this evening’s final in a new national record. The relay team’s record-breaking performance followed hot on the heels of Sarah Lavin’s qualification for the 60m hurdles semi-final in a lifetime best of 7.90.

The women’s 4x400m relay team has proved to be one of Ireland’s most consistent performers at major championships and again produced on the biggest stage to clock the 3:28.45 NR which was enough to advance to the evening’s final as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.

The moment you realised you’ve qualified for the WORLD INDOOR FINAL 💚

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— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) March 3, 2024

Phil Healy (Bandon AC) led away the team with a blistering opening 200m which saw her storm to the lead. Healy passed over to Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) in first place, with the Raheny athlete maintaining good track position before a stacked penultimate leg from Roisin Harrison found the Irish team in 4^th place.

Newport’s Sharlene Mawdsley took on the anchor leg where she closed a significant gap on the leading trio which contained World 400m record holder Femke Bol. Mawdsley would cross the finish in 4^th place, with her split coming in at a blisteringly quick 50.48 which was the fastest leg of any athlete in either of the heats.

The relay squad, which also includes Rachel McCann (North Down AC) and Lauren Cadden (Sligo AC), will return to the track later in the evening as they ramp up preparations for the final set at 8.30 p.m.

Relay Splits:

Leg 1: Phil Healy 51.93
Leg 2: Sophie Becker 53.05
Leg 3: Roisin Harrison 52.99
Leg 4: Sharlene Mawdsley 50.48

Limerick’s Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) safely booked her place in the evening’s 60m hurdles semi-final with a superb personal best performance of 7.90 to finish in first place in Sunday morning’s heats.

Speaking after the race, Lavin spoke about what might be needed to make her second World Indoor final: “It’s going to take better than an Irish record, which is 7.84, 7.83 might sneak in. Obviously indoor 60m hurdles was Derval’s baby as World Champion, but I’m going to give it everything I have to make the final.”

Discussing the prospect of another world final, Lavin said: “I’m going to take it round by round, nothing is a given, and this morning wasn’t a given even though I knew it was more than within my capabilities to win that heat, but I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m going to go back and recover, and I’ll ramp up preparations again for this evening.”

Lavin’s qualifying time ranked as the sixth fastest overall, with Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska setting the fastest heat time with 7.80.

Team Ireland Schedule:

Sunday March 3^rd