RHASIDAT ADELEKE BROKE her own national 400m record at the NCAA Division 1 Prelims in Sacramento overnight, crossing the line in a scorching time of 49.54 to advance from the quarter-finals with ease.
That takes 0.36 off her previous national record, which she had set in mid-April when she ran 49.90 at the Tom Jones Invitational in Florida.
Hers is the third-fastest time in the world this year, and would have been good enough for silver at the previous edition of the World Championships and fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. It is also Adeleke’s sixth national record of 2023.
It wasn’t the fastest time of the day, however, with Britton Wilson clocking 49.51. Wilson beat Adeleke to gold at the NCAA indoor championships earlier this year, and both will contend for gold at the outdoor NCAA championships in Austin next month.
Elsewhere, Nick Grigg broke the Irish U20 5000m record at the popular IFAM meet in Oordegem in Belgium. Griggs clocked a time of 13.36.47, knocking nearly twenty seconds off the previous record of 13.54.10 held by Darragh McElhinney and which was set at the same meet in 2019.
Ciara Mageean regained the national senior 800m record that she had lost last year to Louise Shanahan, finishing second in an exciting race at the British Milers Club meet in Manchester, clocking 1.59.27.
I don’t know much about athletics but is the hype real with this girl? Her achievements seem to be groundbreaking. Those figures are astounding!
@Tom: Another great run by her. the hype is absolutely real. No matter where she is competing a national record is a national record. Also third fastest time in the world this year.
Really looking forward to the world’s later this year. Alot of Irish athletes in form.
@Tom: it’s very real! She’s still relatively new to this distance too and getting closer to her NCCA rival with each race. Her times are fast and improving rapidly- she’s already a real contender for international medals with those times and is still young and improving!! Please god she stays injury free and can keep this going – could be a serious chance of an Irish track medal in Paris 2024, maybe a year or two too early to dream of Gold
@Kevin Dillon: what county is she from?
@Gavin Tavey: born and bred in dublin Gav. Runs for tallaght ac and the university of texas.
Herself and Femke Bol are going to be having some duels in years to come.
@Micheál Dennehy: and Sydney McLoughlin. Will be some dust up when they all meet.
She is the best lrish athlete in a while full stop. However, it is a packed field in the womens 400m. Brittany, Femke, Sydney McGlaughlin, Williams, Uibo, Paulineo. She is neck and neck with these women, but there are 7 or 8 really good athletes capable of low 49s. I hope
she continues improving so she can get the edge for a world title.
@Colm Breen: unless femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin are dropping down from 400H to the flat 400 then they won’t be meeting.
She is definitely the real deal! Can make the 400m Final in the World Championships in Budapest in August and contend for a medal and will be even better in Paris next year. Good enough to medal there, if she stays fit and continues to improve.
Why take down my comment of admiration for her achievement? Odd behaviour 42.