Ireland’s 400m relay team have secured a superb 6th place in the final of the women’s 4x400m at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
The team of Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley crossed the finish in a time of 3:26.63, backing up their fantastic national record (3.26.06) performance.
Squad members Roisin Harrison and Cliodhna Manning also played an important role in helping the team reach this milestone, and will no doubt play key roles in future championships.
The consistency of performance, coupled with the momentum this result will create for the Irish relay scene, is sure to see future successes at major championships.
Breaking a NATIONAL RECORD at a major championships is a historic achievement🤩🙌
Well done to Israel, Rhasidat, Sophie, Phil, (Rhasidat again😬), and Sharlene for putting Irish athletics in the spotlight this week👏🇮🇪#Munich2022 #RecordBreakers #DreamTeam pic.twitter.com/4XqnIWm1zM— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 21, 2022
This final continues an unprecedented run of major final appearances for Irish relay teams, following that of the the mixed 4x400m team at World Championships, Olympic Games, and World Relays, as well as the women’s 4x200m team who claimed a superb silver at the World Relay Championships in 2021.
This relay success is a testament to the great work being done by the athletes, coaches, clubs, and volunteers across Ireland.
The medals went the way of Netherlands (3:20.87 EL), Poland (3:21.68 SB), and Great Britain & Northern Ireland (3:21.74 SB).
Louise Shanahan concluded her 2022 European Championships with an 8th place finish in a strongly run 800m final which opened with a fifty-eight-second opening lap. It was a race that didn’t suit the fast finishing running style of Shanahan who still managed to clock a brilliant 2.01.64.
This week will give the Tokyo Olympian great confidence in knowing that she can mix it with the best in Europe. Her best time this season would have placed her in a medal position tonight, albeit a tough ask after intense qualifying rounds.
The Leevale star is sure to be setting her sights even higher come the next major championships as she continues to better her performance race-on-race.
Well done @LouiseShanahan on a gutsy performance in the 800m final, which was a world class race. You’ve had an outstanding European Championships and have done Ireland proud with your commitment and dedication 🇮🇪☘️ pic.twitter.com/N2ZH1xRJMD
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) August 20, 2022
The medals went the way of Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) 1:59.04, Rénelle Lamote (FRA) 1:59.49, and Anna Wielgosz (POL) 1:59.87.
The performance of the relay team and Louise Shanahan secured Ireland’s 9th top-8 finish of the week (including women’s marathon team & Mark English) which marks the highest ever figure achieved by an Irish team at a European Championships (6 in 1998 & 2002) with one day to go.
Michelle Finn was the final Irish in action on day 6, finishing in 14th place in the 3,000m steeplechase final (9:47.57). It was a superb achievement it to make it to the final in one of the toughest events on the track. The Leevale star gave it everything and crossed the finish within 2 seconds of her season’s best.
The medals went the way of Luiza Gega (ALB) 9:11.31 CR, Lea Meyer 9:15.35 PB (GER), and Elizabeth Bird 9:23.18 (GBR).
We are so proud of all of our athletes🇮🇪
The team secured a record-breaking ELEVEN top-8 finishes, with a further 3 top 10s placings also secured. Our previous best total of top-8 placings at a European Championships was 6, which was achieved in 1998 & 2002🔥#Munich2022 pic.twitter.com/KITNhXQfNy— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 21, 2022
