Rhasidat Adeleke says she will have to change her race strategy if she is to challenge for a medal in Wednesday's World Championships 400 metres final in Budapest.
The Tallaght sensation advanced as an automatic qualifier after finishing second in her semi-final in a time of 49.87, becoming the first Irish sprint finalist at a World Championships since David Gillick and Derval O’Rourke in 2009.
Adeleke finished second to Olympic silver medallist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic and appeared to take her time before hitting her stride from lane five.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport’s Greg Allen after the race, the 20-year-old dismissed the idea that she could be somewhat fatigued after a demanding US College season that began in January, insisting instead that she needs to address her conservative race start if she is to challenge for a medal in Wednesday night’s final (8.35pm Irish time).
"I was probably too comfortable in the first 200 metres. I need to start using my 200-metre speed," she said.
"I knew I was strong, so regardless of where I was, I’d be able to finish, but for the final I know I need to change that tactic.
"I had to work too hard in my last 200, but that’s something I’m going to use in the next race."
Having finished one place outside making the final at last year’s World Championships, Adeleke has taken almost a second and a half off the 400m Irish record over the last 12 months to enter the event as a real medal contender.
She will run from lane four in the final with the three semi-final winners Lieke Klaver, Natalia Kaczmarek and Paulino in the lanes outside her. Only Paulnino has gone under Adeleke's 49.20 this season, with the Dominican Republic athlete looking best placed to claim a more open event than had been expected.
World record holder over 400m hurdles, and fastest in the world this year over the flat, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone withdrew two weeks ago due to a knee problem, while Olympic and defending world champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo could only manage seventh in her heat four months after having a baby.
Asked about her prospects about coming up against the best in the world for a place on the podium, Adeleke said: "I feel like I can compete against the best NCAAs, I’ve been at the world championships before. Everyone is beatable. I’m beatable. At the end of the day, it’s anyone’s medal in the final."
European silver medallist Ciara Mageean has also qualified for her final, in the 1500m, and runs at 8.31pm tonight.
Sharlene Mawdsley was "exhausted" after her fourth 400m race in three days but told RTÉ Sport that reaching the semi-finals "has been my step to believe I deserve to be here".
The Tipperary woman finished seventh, her time of 51.78 over half a second down on the PB she ran on Monday, but she was satisfied with a first World semi appearance as part of a busy week in which she is also running in the 4x400m mixed relay and women's relay (Saturday).
"That race was so hard, I felt every metre of it," said the 25-year-old. "But I'm really glad that I put myself out there today and soaked in the atmosphere. That stadium is just electric. I enjoyed every second of it, as hard as it was.
"I ran a strong first 200 but I think I fell asleep on the top bend today. I was just challenging the girl outside me, a bit of inexperience on my part, I should be challenging the whole field but I’m going to take that as a huge learning curve."
