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The Irish 4x400m relay team of Jack Raftery, Sophie Becker, Christopher O’Donnell, and Sharlene Mawdsley have secured a top six finish in 3:14.13 to round out a superb opening day for Team Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Aug 19th).

The result, which ranks as the best-ever finish by an Irish relay team at a global outdoor (senior) championships, continues a remarkable run for the mixed relay team which has also seen them claim top-eight finishes at both the World Championships in Oregon last year, as well as in the Olympics in Tokyo 2021.

A dramatic finish to the race saw the medals go the way of the United States 3:08.80 WR, Great Britain & NI 3:11.06 NR, and the Czech Republic 3:11.98 NR.

The evening session also witnessed a successful outing from Irish 1500m record holder Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) who finished in a comfortable 6th place in 3:34.75 to book his place in tomorrow’s semi-final.

UCD’s Luke McCann was caught by a fast-finishing pack in his 1500m heat, just missing out on one of the automatic qualifying spots having looked very comfortable heading into the final lap. The race, which turned into a sprint from the final bend saw McCann cross the finish in 3:47.48 for 10th place.

Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) lined up alongside Olympic Champion Jacob Ingebrigtsen in the first of today’s 1500m heats finishing 12th in 3:40.72 to mark another huge milestone in his development. The two-time European U20 track medallist has enjoyed another record-breaking season and this week’s experience will stand greatly to the Tyrone teenager whose trajectory continues to be on an upward curve.

Earlier in the day Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC) and Sarah Healy (UCD AC) confidently progressed to the semi-final of the women’s 1500m. Healy was first to secure her qualification, crossing in 4:03.00 Q for 3rd place in the second heat, while Mageean also crossed in 3rd place in the final heat in 4:03.52 Q.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) signed off her final international appearance of the summer with a five-second personal best of 4:02.15 pb, gaining some hugely valuable senior championship experience in the process. The European u23 gold medallist left everything out on the track to finish eight in a blisteringly fast heat, just two places off qualifying for the next round at her first World Championships.

Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerards AC) opened her championships in stunning fashion in the women’s heptathlon, claiming a lifetime best in of 13.37 in the 100m hurdles. O’Connor followed up with a 1.80m season’s best clearance in the high jump which was just one centimetre off her lifetime best. The Commonwealth Games silver medallist returns to action later this evening for the shot put and 200m.

O’Connor rounded out her busy opening day with a best of 13.47m in the shot put, followed by a 24.78 season’s best in the 200m to head into tomorrow’s final day in 11th position on 3684 points.

Irish shot put record-holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock) bowed out of his second World Championships with a best of 19.65m for 23rd place. Favors would have needed to throw a new national record of 20.74m to make this evening’s final but the Raheny athlete can take much heart from a consistent round of throws which also included a 19.34m and 19.52m.

Athletes in the men’s 20km walk were most impacted by this morning’s thunderstorm delay, all having to push back race preparations by two hours. Ireland’s David Kenny was unfortunately forced to pull up heading into the final stages of the race but the Farrranfore Main Valley athlete is sure to come back even stronger on the road to Paris 2024. The medals went to Álvaro Martin (ESP) 1:17:32 WL, Perseus Karlstrom (SWE) 1:17:39 NR, and Caio Bonfin (BRA) 1:17:47 NR.

Day 1 Results Summary

• David Kenny – Men’s 20km Race Walk – DNF
• Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification – 19.65m (23rd)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 100m Hurdles – 13.57 PB
• Mixed 4x400m Relay – Round One – 3:13.90 SB q
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon High Jump – 1.80m SB
• Ciara Mageean – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:03.52 Q
• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:03.00 Q
• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 4:02.15 PB (25th)
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:40.72 (40th)
• Luke McCann – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:47.48 (52nd)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 3:34.75 Q
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Shot Put –13.47m
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 200m – Heats – 24.78 SB
• Mixed 4x400m Relay – Final – 3:14.13 (6th)