Sonia O’Sullivan: Don’t expect too much from Rhasidat Adeleke on her return to racing

Sharlene Mawdsley made history on Sunday night during her debut in the Diamond League competition held in Paris. The Tipperary-based athlete recorded her fourth consecutive personal best in the 400 meters, clocking in at 50.06 seconds. This performance placed her just shy of breaking the 50-second barrier, which has long been a target for many elite athletes in the sport. Despite finishing in fifth place, Mawdsley's achievement marked a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her growing prowess on the international stage.

Mawdsley faced stiff competition from some of the top names in the 400m discipline. Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic dominated the race, securing victory with a time of 48.48 seconds, which shattered the existing Diamond League record. Lurdes Gloria Manuel of the Czech Republic followed closely behind, claiming second place with a time of 49.37 seconds. Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams and the Netherlands' Lieke Klaver rounded out the podium with times of 49.51 and 49.97 seconds respectively. Each of these athletes represents the highest level of competition in the event, making Mawdsley's performance even more commendable.

In addition to her remarkable 400m performance, Mawdsley had already demonstrated her capabilities earlier in the month. Last Sunday, she nearly secured a major victory at the FBK Games in Hengelo, where she ran a personal best of 50.14 seconds, finishing in second place. Her consistent improvement over the past weeks indicates a strong trajectory in her athletic journey. As she approaches her 28th birthday on August 10th, coinciding with the start of the European Championships in Birmingham, Mawdsley's potential to compete for medals becomes increasingly evident.

Other notable performances included Rhasidat Adeleke, who is preparing for her first 400m race of the season at the upcoming Eugene Diamond League event. Adeleke will need to achieve a qualifying time for the European Championships, adding pressure to her upcoming races. Meanwhile, Sarah Healy participated in the women’s 1,500m event, marking her first race over that distance this summer. Although she struggled to keep pace with the leaders, she managed to finish 11th with a time of 4:01.50.

In the men’s 1,500m category, Australian athlete Cameron Myers showcased his rising talent by setting a new personal best and Oceanic record with a time of 3:28.00. His performance highlighted the competitive nature of the event, where other athletes such as Andrew Coscoran found themselves unable to match the pace, ultimately finishing 15th with a time of 3:46.91.

The evening also featured Audrey Werro from Switzerland, whose attempt to break the women’s 800m world record of 1:53.28 remained unfulfilled. However, she did manage to set a new Diamond League record with a time of 1:53.80. Fellow competitor Femke Broeders-Bol from the Netherlands also achieved a personal best of 1:55.60, securing second place. In the men’s 400m event, Collen Kebinatshipi from Botswana claimed victory, breaking the Diamond League record with a time of 43.54 seconds.

In a separate event, Nicola Tuthill from Ireland emerged victorious in the hammer throw at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial meeting in Poznan, Poland. With a winning distance of 72.73 meters, Tuthill improved her personal best by 25 centimeters. She was joined by Polish world record holder and three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk, who finished second with a distance of 71.53 meters. These performances underscored the high caliber of competition present throughout the weekend's events.