The Ireland 4 x 400 metres mixed relay team, which included Sligo’s Christopher O’Donnell, finished eighth in the final on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
Italy took gold with Nigeria finishing second and the Netherlands third.
Ireland’s time was 3mins 16.86 seconds.
Ireland qualified for the final after finishing second in their semi-final heat earlier in the evening, with 19-year-old Dublin sensation Rhasidat Adeleke running a superb anchor leg.
However, she did not run in the final for Ireland with Sharlene Mawdsley taking her place instead.
Here’s what the Irish had to say after that superb second-place finish to make the world final in the mixed relay.#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/jE0PejFF3m
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) July 15, 2022
Speaking after their semi-final run, O’Donnell said: “I’m just super proud of the guys, I gave it everything on that first leg.
“I told them before: we made the World Relay final, we made the Olympic final and to do it again, it’s a pretty good achievement.”
O’Donnell will run in the heats of the individual men’s 400 metres on Sunday night.
Elsewhere on Friday night, Donegal national shot putt record holder John Kelly (Finn Valley FC) was unable to progress from the qualifier in Oregon – his best throwing being 17.92m, which wasn’t good enough to reach the final.
