Sharlene Mawdsley ran a brilliant anchor leg to see Ireland through to the 4 x 400m relay final at the world indoor championships.
Just days after being disqualified from the individual 400m in controversial circumstances, this was something of a redemption for the Tipperary athlete.
She showed no hangover from that heartbreak in running the fastest leg of any athlete in the women’s 4x400m relay heats to help Ireland qualify for the final, with the team setting a national record in the process.
Cork athlete Phil Healy got Ireland off to a brilliant start in the race before Sophie Becker and Roisin Harisson kept Ireland in contention.
The Irish team were overtaken by their Dutch, US and Belgian opponents but they qualified for the final as a ‘fastest loser’ after a blistering 50.48 split from Mawdsley.
Speaking to Virgin Media’s Will Dalton after the race, Mawdsley described it as a ‘redemption’.
“I had a bit of redemption to give today.
“I honestly can’t put into words what this means to me. To step up with the girls today. I’m so pleased that we got a national record and a final, it’s so pleasing.”
“I knew everyone was behind me.
“I’m still a bit emotional. But I went to relay training with the girls yesterday and put it behind me. I couldn’t have had a better support team around me, between the girls here and all of Ireland.”
Posting on Instagram on Saturday night, the 25-year-old Tipperary woman described herself as ‘heartbroken’ after the events of the individual 400m, where an appeal from Austria’s Susanne Gogl-Walli shattered her dreams.
“This sport is one of the hardest of them all,” wrote Mawdsley.
“The highs and lows feel second to none.
“I want to thank every person who messaged me since last night.
“It no longer felt like an individual sport, and that support being there when I needed it was extremely special.
“I felt my hurt, and I’m sure I will again – but for now; onwards and upwards, because I am so lucky to get to go out with the girls tomorrow in the 4x400m.
“See you trackside.”
The final takes place this evening, with Ireland up against Great Britain, Jamaica, Netherlands, United States and Belgium.
