It was a weekend sof high drama, national records and personal bests at the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Glasgow.
Friday night set the ball in motion with a dramatic fall for Sarah Healy within two metres of the line and a place in the 1500 metre final.
Then the joy of Sharlene Mawdsley’s qualification for the 400 metre individual race was taken away by what seemed a very harsh disqualification.
Healy was back in South Dublin yesterday, pounding the streets doubtless clearing her head after the blow of being so close but Mawdsley had some sense of redemption qualifying as part of the 4×400 metre relay team that finished fifth in their World Final.
Sarah Lavin also lit up the third and final day, equalling her Personal best and National Record in making it to her final and finishing as the fifth fastest in the world over the 60 metre hurdles.
“To finish 5th in the world is amazing and to do it in final where the world record was broken too,” she said after the race.
“7.79 won bronze today, and that’s never be required before to win a medal so it just shows where the standard is going”.
“We’ve a Europeans in June which I want to be really competitive at, but the Olympics is everything, it’s the biggest stage in the world. Paris will be sensational so I’m really looking forward to what’s to come.”
Sunday’s final appearance continues a remarkable run for the women’s 4x400m relay team, who have now made finals at recent European Championships, World Outdoors, and now World Indoors.
“It’s a testament to the squad we have,” said Phil Healy who ran the first leg.
“We’ve great subs back in warm up and the team is constantly changing which drives everyone on. It’s a big year for us, we have World Relays in a few weeks, a European Championships, and an Olympic Games (subject to qualification), so to come 5th in the world, and to be so close to the national record again is really super for this team.”
Only the Dutch lead off runner Lieke Klaver clocked a faster leg than Sharlene Mawdsley in the final and she spoke of her pride in the team and what they had achieved this weekend.
“I never felt pain like that before, I left everything on the track out there. We have a great group of girls involved in the relay squad now and Irish athletics in general is in such a great place, so I think a lot of other teams are going to be watching out for Ireland at future championships.”
Team Ireland Results Summary:
Women’s 4x400m Relay – 5th National Record 3:28.45
Sarah Lavin 60m Hurdles – 5th Equal Personal Best (x2) 7.90
Sharlene Mawdsley 400m – 12th
Roisin Flanagan 3,000m – 15th Personal Best 8:53.02
Sarah Healy 1500m – 26th 4:18.86
Israel Olatunde 60m – 26th Season Best 6.70
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