Mixed Relay Team’s Gold Chase Falls Short
The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo got underway with disappointing news for Team Ireland as the mixed 4x400m relay squad failed to qualify for the final. Despite their European gold medal win in 2019, the Irish quartet finished sixth in their heat, with a time of 3:13.59, missing out on a spot in the next round.
“It’s a learning experience. You can’t have an off day at a World Championships and that’s clearly what we had.
“It’s our own fault, we made mistakes in the race, but we’ve learned so much from it, for next year going into the Europeans. We’re defending champions and we’ll want to put our best foot forward then, so we’ll be back.”
– Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC)
Oisín Lane’s Herculean Effort in Race Walk Debut
Mullingar Harriers’ Oisín Lane made his World Championships debut in the men’s 35km Race Walk, crossing the finish line in 28th position. Despite battling through grueling conditions, Lane reflected on a challenging but valuable experience.
“It was very tough. It’s a huge surprise, in the last 10k I was just trying to finish,” he said.
“I was moving nicely, found a good flow, then at 25k just everything blew up at once, the stomach went, the legs went, the head went, and they stopped giving out sponges on the course so it was harder to cool down.”
Eric Favors Misses Shot Put Qualifiers
Team Ireland’s dream of success in the men’s shot put was dashed as Eric Favors failed to secure a spot in the qualification round.
“I couldn’t do it on the day, it’s a tough one,” said Favors.
Catch All the Action on RTE
The World Athletics Championships continue, with live coverage on RTÉ2 and the RTE Player at 9.45am on Saturday.
Did You Know?
The mixed relay event was introduced to the World Athletics Championships in 2019, with Ireland securing the European title the same year.
Pro Tips for Watching the World Athletics Championships
- Keep an eye out for strategies and tactics employed by athletes in different events.
- Look out for up-and-coming stars and seasoned veterans looking to add to their career tallies.
- Remember, weather conditions can play a significant role in outdoor track and field events.
Faith in the Future
Despite the setbacks, Ireland’s athletes remain resilient and focused. Lessons learned from these experiences will undoubtedly fuel their determination to perform at their best when it matters most.
Get involved in the conversation below. Who do you hope to see climb the podium for Team Ireland? Share your predictions and thoughts on the ongoing World Athletics Championships.