Rhasidat Adeleke qualifies for 400m World Final in Budapest.

Tallaght’s Rhasidat Adeleke has reached the final of the women’s 400 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

The 20-year-old had a second-place finish in the first of the three semi-finals, delivering an impressive finish coming in at 49.87 in Budapest.

Adeleke, who won her heat on the weekend, was amongst three sub-50 racers with world number one Marileidy Paulino and Candince McLeod also achieving the feat.

Here is Rhasidat Adeleke (Lane 5) qualifying for the World 400m final - the first Irish sprinter in a World final for 14 years.

It’s also her first global final at just 20!

The whole of Ireland will be watching her, 8.35pm on Wednesday ☘️☘️☘️

pic.twitter.com/nTLlpoBP6M

— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) August 21, 2023

The top two from the other semis, as well as the two fastest times overall from the non-automatic qualifiers will be eligible for the final.

“I got a bit too slow,” Adeleke told Virgin Media. “I was too comfortable for the first 200 [metres] so I had to work really hard for the last 200. It was still a good run, I don’t feel that bad so I know what to change for the final.”

“[The legs are] not too bad. Just trying to maintain the form and stay healthy,” she added.

Sharlene Mawdsley was competing in another 400m semi-final, clocking in at 51.78 seconds and achieving a seventh-place finish.

The Women’s 400m final will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 23 August. You can watch the race, as well as the rest of the 2023 World Athletics Championships on Virgin Media.