Rhasidat Adeleke has qualified the 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, after finishing second in her semi-final on Monday night.
The Tallaght native ran a time of 49.87 to finish behind Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Marileidy Paulino, who clocked in at 49.54.
Adeleke's time was an improvement on the 50.80 she ran in her heat on Sunday and while the final will consist of a competitive field, she can go into it with genuine hopes of claiming a historic medal.
She will be the first Irish sprinter in a World Athletics Championships Final since David Gillick and Derval O'Rourke did so in Berlin back in 2009.
Should Adeleke finish on the podium, the soon-to-be 21-year-old will be the first Irish athlete to win any medal at outdoor global sprint event since Bob Tisdall won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Rhasidat Adeleke assesses her race
Speaking to Virgin Media Sport after her semi-final, Adeleke conceded that she needed to improve in the final 200m, after getting off to what she called a slow start.
"I was too comfortable in the first 200 so I had to work really hard on the last two," she said. "It was still a good run, I know what to change for the final. I need to know to use my 200 speed in the first 200 of the race."
"I got out a bit too slow, I was too comfortable in the first 200m, so I had to work really hard in the last 200m.
"I know what to change for the final."@rhasidatadeleke speaks to @WillDalton01 after making the 400m final! ☘️#TeamIreland #WorldAthleticsChamps #Budapest2023 pic.twitter.com/K96lgB4zV9— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) August 21, 2023
Time and TV info for Adeleke final
While Adeleke progressed, Tipperary's Sharlene Mawdsley bowed out of the 400m, after finishing seventh in her semi-final with a time of 51.78.
Irish fans will be able to watch Adeleke in action in the 400m final on Wednesday night at 8.35pm, with all of the action broadcast live on Virgin Media Two.
