Ireland’s 4x400m mixed relay team of Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Cillin Greene and Christopher O’Donnell, finished eight in first ever Olympic final
This Irish team had first qualified automatically in second place in their semifinal yesterday after USA and Dominican Republic were disqualified. After a referral both, teams were reinstated as both faults were down to errors by officials.
Ireland still qualified as the national record breaking time was still fast enough.
The team came out all smiles from inside the stadium to take their position in lane one. The favourites for this race were the USA and Poland.
Ireland’s mixed relay team have qualified for the Olympic final👇.
GOWAN PHIL! https://t.co/MrQL6YQeAg
— Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) July 30, 2021
Greene was up first for Ireland and got off to a decent start, finishing the first lap in sixth place ahead of Team GB.
He handed over well to Collins who held onto the position until the lanes merged, she was in seventh at the handover.
At the baton change, Jamaica and Germany tangled, leaving the Germans on the ground, dropping their baton. They continued to finish the race well behind the rest but it ultimately did not count.
Becker fought with Jamaica for the seventh place spot and that continued into the last 400m with O’Donnell.
Ireland finished the race in a time of 3:15.04, narrowly in eight, two seconds off their record time.
Poland would take gold with an Olympic record time of 3:09.87. Dominican Republic got silver while the USA were resigned to bronze.
Poland #POL are the inaugural mixed 4x400m relay champions! 🥇
And their time of 3:09.87 beats their European record as well! 🙌 #athletics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/PPZoZkn4bW
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 31, 2021
This young Irish relay team, although disappointed not to improve on their best time should be very happy with their performance at the inaugural mixed relay event.
This will conitinue to be a team to look out for in the future world championships and for Paris in 2023.
Another super run from the Mixed 4x400m Relay team 💪🏻
They finish 8th in the Olympic final in a time of 3:15.04 – the second fastest time ever behind the national record they set yesterday 🇮🇪
What an incredible two days it’s been for them 🔥#TeamIreland #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/CkUtFbsktG
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 31, 2021
