Rhasidat Adeleke narrowly missed out on securing Ireland's first World Athletics Championship track medal in 28 years. The track star's impressive fourth-place finish in the women's 400m final comes 24 hours after Ciara Mageean's efforts in the 1500m event.
Adeleke, who turns 21 next week, has already made history this year in other track events by setting new Irish track records and ended the race with a time of 50.13. The race was won by favorite Marileidy Paulino, who ran a time of 48.76.
Kaczmarek surged through to take silver in 49.57 and Williams finished strongly for third in 49.60, with Adeleke following shortly after.
Adeleke, speaking after the race, claimed that she left everything out on the newly constructed National Athletics Stadium track in Budapest on Wednesday.
"Yeah, at the end of the day, I gave it all I had, and that was my goal," she said.
"I wasn't quite 100%, but I can't complain. I left it all out on the track out there, and that's all I had.
"I felt I was a bit out of my comfort zone; I do like to be more comfortable in the first 200, but I did what I was told, and that's all I can do. Like, I'd be kicking myself if I did the opposite and I did even worse.
48.76 national record 🤩@Marileidy_P is your 400m world champion 💪
#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/7RvMzY8EUu— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 23, 2023
Despite finishing fourth, the Dublin native claimed she was proud of her efforts in Budapes and that the other runners had more time to prepare.
"It's been a long season; I've run so many races, and to come out here at the end of August after running since the start of January, I'm just happy because I was competing against the pros who started their season in May.
"So for me to come fourth, honestly, it's a really good result."
The running sensation now has her sights set on the Paris Olympics next year.
"I'm just going to keep working," she said. "I just want to put in more effort and improve my performances," she added.
