Sharlene Mawdsley runs storming anchor leg to qualify Team Ireland for women’s 4x400m final
Mawdsley was drafted in as a late replacement for Tuesday's semi-final heat
Tipperary athlete Sharlene Mawdsley produced another masterful anchor leg to power the Irish women's 4x400m team to victory in the heats in Rome this morning, clocking the second-fastest time in history by an Irish squad, 3:24.81.
Mawdsley had not been due to run the event, having raced the 400m final last night, but came to the stadium in case she was needed, and she was drafted in late after Kelly McGrory withdrew during the warm-up.
They were led off by Sophie Becker who clocked 51.64 and handed off to Phil Healy, who kept the Irish towards the front after a split of 51.29.
Lauren Cadden kept them in the mix with a 52.12 before handing off to Mawdsley, who ran a patient race, biding her time behind the leaders before coasting past her rivals in the home straight.
The final takes place on Wednesday night at 8.06 pm Irish time.