Rhasidat Adeleke takes home incredible double NCAA title win in Texas

Dublin athlete Rhasidat Adeleke has added to her growing list of achievements this Saturday after winning the 400m NCAA title. The 20-year-old broke her own national record with a time of 49.20, also becoming the first Irish person to take home an NCAA title.

TRACK. DEFENDED!

Rhasidat Adeleke made a statement with her time of 49.20 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wUATJt9cgm

— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC) June 11, 2023

On her home field in Texas, Adeleke also led her 4x100m women’s relay team to victory, winning the race for the fifth time in the college’s history. She was the first Irish champion across any sport at the NCAAs in 17 years. Sligo’s Mary Cullen was the last Irish person to do so, winning the NCAA title in the 5000m for Providence College in 2006.

Speaking on twitter, Adeleke thanked her fans and supporters in Ireland and beyond, saying: “Thank you to everyone who helped me get here & everyone who supports me. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

NCAA 400m champion!!!
-National record, meet record!
-4x100m champion & collegiate record!
-Team title

Thank you to everyone who helped me get here & to everyone who supports me, it doesn’t go unnoticed🧡

Grateful to God for how far I’ve come.#floknows pic.twitter.com/jd75EPP3RA

— Rhasidat Adeleke (@rhasidatadeleke) June 11, 2023

Adeleke was congratulated by many Irish names in the sporting and athletics communities, as well as the likes of Tánaiste Micheál Martin.

Saturday’s race was the seventh time in 2023 that Adeleke broke an Irish national record, with her time of 49.20 in the 400m race moving her into the top 20 on the World 400m all-time list.

Her time on Saturday was also the third fastest time of any runner this year. American sprinter Britton Wilson, who currently holds the second fastest 400m time of 2023, could only finish second behind Adeleke on Saturday.