IRELAND HAS QUALIFIED for the women’s 4x400m final after a fantastic performance in Paris this morning. 

A storming final leg from Sharlene Mawdsley saw the team claim an automatic qualification place in the final behind Jamacia and the Netherlands with a time of 3:25.05. 

Ireland's Kelly McGrory, Phil Healy, Sophie Becker and Sharlene Mawdsley after qualifying in third place during the Women's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 at the Stade de France. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Sophie Becker opened the relay for Ireland with an impressive 50.90-second leg, passing the baton to Phil Healy and then Kelly McGrory who both ran the 400m in around 52-seconds. 

Mawdsley finished the job for Ireland with a blistering 49.65-second final leg that saw the team book a place in the final.

The final will take place tomorrow 10 August at 8:14pm and the team will be hoping for a similar performance that could put them in contention for a medal.

Speaking to RTÉ after the race, Sophie Becker said “we’re in the final, it’s an amazing feeling. We said we were going to do it. We did it, I’m so proud of us”.

Kelly McGrory, competing in her first Olympics, added that she knew she had to be brave “to get out in front and not get caught up in any mess” to give the team the best chance of progressing.

Mawdsley said the team is “buzzing” to have qualified for the final in an automatic position, saying she trusted her final 100m to make the move into third.

Phil Healy also praised the Irish fans at the stadium in Paris calling the support they have received “absolutely unbelievable” and saying “this is the closest we get a home Games, and it really does feel like we are at home”.