Shanahan Bows Out As Attention Turns To Evening Session For Team Ireland

Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) bowed out of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this morning, with her 2:00:66 fifth place finish in the heats of the 800m not enough to progress to the next round of competition.

The 26-year-old, who overcame early season injuries to win the national title last month with the second fastest time of her career, worked her way into the race after the bell and looked set for fourth before being pipped by Romania's Claudia Bobocea.

The Tokyo Olympian was well positioned throughout but a sharp increase of pace with 200m to go meant the three-time-national outdoor 800m champion could not get close enough to unleash her customary fast-finishing-kick for home.

The Cambridge University student, who is set to complete her PhD in quantum physics in December, looks set to continue her season as she builds towards Paris 2024.

Day 5 Morning Results Summary

Louise Shanahan – Women’s 800m – Round 1 (H4) – 2:00.66 (27^th)

Day 5 Evening Session – Wednesday August 23

This evening’s session at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest promises to be another thrilling one for the Irish with Sarah Lavin and Rhasidat Adeleke set to headline what could be a memorable hour for Team Ireland.

Limerick’s Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) returns for the semi-final of the 100m hurdles following her blistering 12.69 in yesterday’s heats. Lavin will take her place alongside five athletes who boast personal bests of 12:50 or better so the European Games bronze medallist will likely need to break Derval O'Rourke’s national record of 12.65 if she is to challenge for a place in Thursday’s final.

Rhasidat Adeleke will take to the track for her first senior global final buoyed by her opening two performances at these championships. Adeleke takes her place in the final having posted the fourth fastest time (49.87) in the semi-final behind likely podium challengers Natalia Kaczmarek (POL), Sada Williams (BAR), and gold medal favourite Marileidy Paulino (DOM).

The 20-year-old NCAA champion has shown tremendous consistency this season and will likely need to challenge her national record of 49.20 (June 2023) if she is to hunt down another historic result this evening.

Day 5 Evening Session