Chris O'Donnell wins magical European gold with Ireland mixed 4x400m relay in Rome

Chris O'Donnell ran an excellent opening leg to lead Ireland's mixed 4x400m relay team to gold at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Friday night.

O'Donnell, who was educated at Magh Ene College in Bundoran, joined Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley to win a magical gold at the Stadio Olimpico.

O'Donnell was the only addition, replacing Cillín Greene, to the Ireland team that won bronze at the World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas last month.

The Irish quartet became the only Irish athletes other than Sonia O'Sullivan to win gold in the 90-year history of these Championships.

“It’s unbelievable,” O'Donnell, who ran a 46.09-second split, beamed. “It’s everything we dreamt of.
“I really felt like we were doing it for the whole country.

I wasn’t nervous, I was excited. It’s an unbelievable day. We just can’t get over it.”

O'Donnell handed the baton over to Adeleke and the Tallaght sensation surged the Irish into pole position in a stunning 49.53-second lap.

Barr took receipt and went around in 44.90 before passing to Mawdsley. The Newport woman had the honour of taking Ireland over the line in first amid jubilant scenes in Rome. Mawdsley blasted out a 49.40-second anchor leg – the fastest leg of the night - to seal the place in the history books.

Ireland scorched the national record when finishing in 3:09.92, ahead of Italy (3:10.69) and the Netherlands (3:10.69).

O'Donnell said: “We were performing miracles a a few years ago making finals. It was always what's the next one – and now it's gold!”

Earlier on Friday, Mark English bowed out of 800m. The Finn Valley AC man's bid for a fifth European medal ended after he finished fifth in his heat.

The 31-year-old doctor, going out of lane four, clocked 1:46.73 for fifth in the second of four heats. The time was not enough for English to advance to the semi-finals.

Tir Chonaill AC's Kelly McGrory will line up on Sunday in the 400m hurdles and is also in the mix to be in the 4x400m relay team that goes into action on Tuesday.

Adeleke and Mawdsley are also among those who could take to the track.

Injury has prevented Finn Valley AC duo Brendan Boyce and Roisin Flanagan taking their places in the race walk and 5000m.