SHARLENE MAWDSLEY HAS lost her race against the clock in a bid to be fit for next week’s European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

The 27-year-old pulled up injured during the 200m final at last month’s National Athletics Championships and was later diagnosed with a torn hamstring.

The injury comes as a cruel blow for Mawdsley who has been in the form of her life this season, improving her 400m personal best on no fewer than four separate occasions to a new lifetime low of 50.06 seconds.

“I’m so sad to say that I won’t be making the start line at the European Championships next week,” she said in a statement.

“We made huge progress after I was diagnosed with a tear in my hamstring, but unfortunately the timing just wasn’t on my side.

“I can’t thank my team enough. They have worked around the clock to give me every possible chance, and we really pushed the limits together.

“To Martina McCarthy, Paul Carragher and Athletics Ireland, thank you for all your support, and to Michael Breen for being my training partner these last two weeks.”

“We’ll keep working hard, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track later this season.

“Down, not out.”

Mawdsley had been due to line up as part of the Women’s 4x400m relay team, as well as in the individual 400m, where she was ranked sixth in Europe this season.

Rhasidat Adeleke, Sophie Becker, Rachel McCann, Cliodhna Manning and Arlene Crossan will compete in the relay in Mawdsley’s absence, while both Michelle Duggan and Jenna Breen were provisionally named last week as the team’s non-travelling reserves.

Written by Niall Kelly and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.