A dominant run from Rhasidat Adeleke saw her comfortably win her heat of the 400m to safely qualify for the semi-finals on Wednesday.
After a false start that saw the disqualification of Ecuador's Nicole Caicedo, Adeleke, running in lane five, wasted no time in making up the stagger and hit the front before the final bend.
She could even afford to have a few glances to her left and right as she eased up down the straight, coming home in a time 50.09.
The USA's Alexis Holmes was second in 50.35, with Junelle Bromfield third in 51.36.
Adeleke was the seventh fastest qualifier for the semis, with world champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic posting the fastest time in 49.42.
Adeleke was in jubilant form after the race, telling RTÉ Sport: "It felt so good, it was so fun. My coaches said run the first 200 and make sure you're in contention the whole time and as soon as you can, break off the pace.
"I was looking around to see if I was still in contention and it felt really good. I’ve been here for a week now and I’ve been itching to go the last few days, but it’s been so fun. I’ve seen all my team-mates compete and they’ve been doing phenomenally."
"It felt so good. It was so fun. Am I at Morton Stadium right now?" Rhasidat Adeleke enjoyed winning her 400m heat in front of a big Irish crowd in Paris
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 5, 2024
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Adeleke was greeted with a huge roar from the Irish fans as her name was announced around the Stade de France ahead of the race.
"No literally I was like: 'Am I at Morton Stadium right now?’ That was amazing, there were so many Irish flags. There’s so many people here supporting."
There was disappointment, however, for Sharlene Mawdsley and Sophie Becker who failed to make the top three in their respective heats and will now compete in Tuesday morning's repechage.
Sharlene Mawdsley was fourth in her 400m heat despite a personal best of 50.71 and will go again in the repechage tomorrow
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 5, 2024
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Mawdsley narrowly missed out, despite running a personal best time of 50.71. Austria's Susanne Gogl-Walli edging her for third in a time of 50.67. Paulino Mariledy of the Dominican Republic won the heat in 49.42, with the USA's Aaliyah Butler second in 50.62.
Speaking after the race, Mawdsley said she was proud of her performance after running a personal best at an Olympic Games.
She told RTÉ Sport: "Yeah, I said you know what, it's the Olympics, go out and go for it. I know I'm in good shape, I think I just got a little carried away towards the end and I said you have it, you have it, you have it and then I didn't.
"It was so close though, I would have qualified in this heat like 51.36 so it's mad but that's the way the game is going. I'm proud of that performance.
"Honestly, I thought I'm in a good position here and I just wanted to fight for it. I was pretending I was in a relay. I'm usually good at that but I got caught a bit towards the end.
"I genuinely just think it's lack of experience being out there with the world's best. It was a little bit scary but I'm proud of that performance. It's not every day you run a personal best and to run at the Olympic Games, it's really great for me."
Sharlene Mawdsley was proud after a personal best and fourth in her 400m heat and she will be the fastest starter in tomorrow's repechage - "I just have to go and win that"
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As for tomorrow's repechage, Mawdsley will be the fastest starter and she said she is out to win it.
She said: "Yeah, I just have to go and win that. Hopefully I'll go out and try and do exactly what I did today and hopefully that will be enough for a semi-final spot."
Sophie Becker came home sixth in her heat.
The Co Wexford athlete was in contention to advance as the field passed the final bend, but faded over the final 50 metres. She finished in a time of 51.84, outside her PB of 51.13.
She said her performance left her "disappointed and confused" but was ready to race again tomorrow.
"Training's been going really well these last few weeks, definitely not reflective of what I ran there.
Sophie Becker was "disappointed and a bit confused" after finishing sixth in her 400m heat but determined to reach the semi-final or run a personal best in tomorrow's repechage
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"Back to my coaches, back to the drawing board. I want to get into that semi-final, I want a personal best but that run wasn’t it there.
"I felt good until 250 but I suppose that’s where the other girls started coming through and I started fading.
"My end of the race has definitely got a lot stronger these last few weeks and months, it just didn’t show there.
"I’m confused, disappointed but ready to go again tomorrow."
