European Athletics Championships: All you need to know on Day 5 in Rome
Ireland's Sharlene Mawdsley takes the baton from Lauren Cadden while competing in the women's 4x400m relay heats during Day 5 of the European Athletics Championships at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy this morning. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Day five of the European Championships will be dominated by relay races.
First up was the men’s 4x400m team of Jack Raftery, Chris O’Donnell, Sean Doggett and Callum Baird who were in action at 9.45am, however, they failed to qualify for the final after finishing fifth.
Next up was the women’s 4x400m heats at 10.15am, with Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Lauren Cadden and Sharlene Mawdsley in action for Ireland.
In a classy run from the Irish, Mawdsley bided her time in the final leg to eventually take her moment in the last 100m to claim first place for her team – and a berth in Wednesday’s final (8.05pm Irish time).
Israel Olatunde led the charge for the men’s 4x100m team but they ultimately finished seventh in their heat and not enough to qualify.
US-based pair Anika Thompson and Laura Mooney look for valuable experience in the women’s 10,000m final from 8.30pm.
Thompson broke Mooney’s U23 10,000m national record in California at the end of March and they're sure to have sights set on breaking into the top 20 as they chase down personal best performances.
Where to watch?
You can watch all the action live on RTÉ 2 and BBC Red Button.
Irish in action today (all times Irish)
Morning session
9.45am: Men’s 4x400m heats - Jack Raftery, Chris O’Donnell, Sean Doggett and Callum Baird (failed to qualify)
10.15am: Women’s 4x400m heats - Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Lauren Cadden and Sharlene Mawdsley (qualified)
11.00am: Men’s 4x100m heats - Bori Akinola, Mark Smyth, Colin Doyle and Israel Olatunde (failed to qualify)
Evening session
8.30pm: Anika Thompson, Laura Mooney, women’s 10,000m final
