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Rhasidat Adeleke fifth in European 400m final

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Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) has finished fifth in the final of the women’s 400m on the third night of action at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

The Texas University student crossed the line in a time of 50.53s taking 0.17s off her own Irish record which set back in May.

The 19-year-old has had a phenomenal season running Irish records over 60, 200m, and 300m also.

Adeleke gave her reaction to David Gillick on RTÉ:

Rhasidat Adeleke will return to action on Friday in the heats of the women’s 4x400m relay. Adeleke is joined in the squad by Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrocks AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) and Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC).

Earlier in the day, Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) booked his place in the semi-final of the 400m Hurdles.

Barr looked strong as he won his heat in a time of 49.49s but will be fully aware he will have to go faster in tomorrow morning’s semi-final.

He has been drawn in lane eight in the first of the three semis with his race getting underway at 10:25am.

Wilfried Happio (France) is the fastest athlete in the field with a 47.41s PB to finish fourth at the World Championships last month.

Barr’s 47.97s from the 2016 Olympics in Rio is the second fastest PB in the field but the 30-year-old from Waterford only has the fifth fastest season’s best of the starters.

The top two athletes advance automatically to the final, along with the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers will also make Friday night’s final.

A number of other Irish athletes will also be in action tomorrow.

Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) and Eilish Flanagan (Finn Valley AC) compete in the heats of the 3000m steeplechase. The two athletes are ranked second and third for the event on the Irish All-Time list with performances in 2021 but have failed to hit those heights yet this season.

Finn goes in heat one at 8:20am, while Flanagan is in heat two at 8:37am. The top five qualify automatically to the final along with five fastest non-automatic qualifiers.

Mark English (Finn Valley AC) and John Fitzsimons (Kildare AC) race in the heats of the men’s 800m at 9:17am and 9:24am respectively.

English finished ninth overall at the World Championships, while Fitzsimons has had a very impressive season. Both athletes will feel capable of qualifying. The first three in each heat along with the next four fastest times advance.

Irish record holder Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) is in action in the heats of the women’s 800m at 9:59am. Shanahan ran her national record back in May and will be hoping to advance.

The final Irish athlete in action in the morning session is Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC). The Carlow man goes in the first heat of the 200m at 11:30am.

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