With the World Championships in Tokyo just three months away, Rhasidat Adeleke's first 400m race of the year was not expected to be a standout performance. At the Oslo Diamond League, the Dubliner finished fourth with a time of 50.42, falling short of her Irish record of 49.07.

This race marked Adeleke's return to her specialty distance since last September. After starting steadily in lane six, she made a move through the field in the second half of the race, challenging for second place as she approached the final bend.

However, similar to some races last year, Adeleke struggled slightly in the final 50 meters, ultimately finishing fourth. Isabella Whittaker of the USA claimed victory in 49.58, followed by Henriette Jaeger of Norway (49.62) and Amber Anning of Britain (50.24). Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver finished just behind Adeleke in 50.64, with Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland in sixth place with a time of 50.67.

Adeleke expressed her focus on adjusting and building up towards her main goal in September. She will be competing in the Stockholm Diamond League next, aiming to progress and improve with each race.

Meanwhile, Mark English participated in the 800m race in Oslo, finishing seventh with a time of 1:44.33. Despite breaking the Irish 800m record earlier, English faced tough competition in a race that included Olympic finalists and medallists.

Grand Slam Track, the league co-founded by Michael Johnson, announced the cancellation of its final meeting for the 2025 season due to financial reasons. The league plans to return in 2026 with new investors and partners, after struggling to attract audiences and TV viewers in its inaugural season.

Irish Squad for European Team Championships

The Athletics Ireland announced a 46-member Irish team for the European Athletics Team Championships in Maribor, Slovenia. The team, featuring star athletes like Sharlene Mawdsley, Sarah Lavin, and Cillín Greene, will compete in the second division against 15 other nations.

Women in the squad include Lucy-May Sleeman, Sophie Becker, Sarah Lavin, and more, while the men's team consists of Bori Akinola, Cillín Greene, Brian Fay, and others.

Source: The Irish Independent