The heat and humidity inside the National Stadium reached the red warning zone at the start of Sunday’s evening session at the World Championships. Before the end, the stress levels of Sharlene Mawdsley and Sarah Healy went into the red zone too.
First Mawdsley, who went into her 400 metres heat knowing qualification might require something special. Drawn in lane nine, in the third of six heats, only the top three were sure of progressing – plus the six fastest non-qualifiers.
Mawdsley finished fourth, clocking 51.04 seconds, narrowly edged out for third spot.
That meant sitting through the next three heats before realising she was safe, the Tipperary athlete ending up fifth of the six fastest non-qualifiers. Cue mild relief and massive elation.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, so proud of myself,” she said.” It was a tough wait, but just made it all worthwhile. I wanted to commit to it, for myself, and if I blow up in the last 50m, at least I’d still committed.”
Mawdsley had also given her all in Saturday’s mixed relay qualification, making up two places on the anchor leg, though still Ireland fell short. Given the outside lane, she’d little choice but to tear off from the gun, and she did exactly that, while critically holding her form down the homestretch.
Her heat was won by Sydney McLoughlin-Levrone in 49.41, the Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles from the US, who is looking to add the 400m-flat title in Tokyo.
Then came Healy, who’d made no secret of her resolve to make the 1,500m final. The European Indoor champion did everything right up until just before the ball, the race already a stormy affair, as Germany’s Nele Webel and Salome Afonso from Portugal were clipped at the back after 150m, briefly falling.
Ireland’s Sarah Healy stumbles amidst the traffic during her 1,500m semi-final in Tokyo. Italy’s Marta Zenoni was later disqualified. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Only the top six from the two semi-finals progressed, Healy sitting in sixth approaching the bell, before being clipped slightly herself. She began to lose ground down the backstretch, as Kenya’s Kelly Chepchirchir pressed things hard at the front, and in the desperate dash for the finish she could only manage seventh, in 4:08.78, Italy’s Marta Zenoni from just ahead of her.
Cue heartbreak and devastation, though only temporarily, as 20 minutes later, the result was amended with Zenoni disqualified for pushing, promoting Healy into a qualifying spot. There was a further appeal from the Italian team, but by midnight Tokyo time that was rejected, so Healy was also safe.
There would have been palpable disappointment had Healy missed out, the lucky break taking the pressure off for Tuesday’s final (2.05pm Irish time), and she has nothing to lose this time. Sophie O’Sullivan was however unable to repeat the heroics of her qualifying heat, bringing up the rear of her 1,500m semi-final, 12th in 4:18.18, that race won by Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, the defending champion, in 4:00.34.
Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran in action during the 1,500m heats in Tokyo. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Sopher Becker also exited the 400m, sixth in her heat. Drawn in lane two, like Mawdsley she went out aggressively in the first half of the race, but faded from fifth to sixth down the home straight, clocking 52.19.
In Sunday’s morning session, Andrew Coscoran provided another fillip for Irish middle distance running by cruising through his 1,500m heat. Coscoran had Jakob Ingebrigtsen for company, among others, the Norwegian star racing for the first time in six months. But while Ingebrigtsen was unable to get himself into contention, Coscoran finished safely in sixth place, in a time of 3:37.32 – that heat won by Britain’s 2022 World Champion Jake Wightman.
Fellow Dubliner Cathal Doyle lined up in an equally stacked heat, only he found the pace a little too hot to handle and he ended up 12th. Coscoran’s semi-final is set for Monday, 1.30pm Irish time.
Ireland’s Nicola Tuthill has reached the final of the women’s hammer. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
In the field, Nicola Tuthill made her World Championship debut, at age 21, in the hammer qualification. The Cork thrower improved in each of her three rounds, from her first round effort of 65.43m, to a last round to throw 70.70m. That saw her make it to Monday’s final as the 12th and final qualifier, delighting herself in the process.
Sarah Lavin will also be back inside the National Stadium on Monday, after coming through her heat of the 100m hurdles. Again there with no room for error, as only the top three across the six heats progressed, along with six fastest non-qualifiers. Despite a shaky start, Lavin kept her cool over the second half of the race and took third spot in 12.94 seconds, ensuring her progression.
Monday schedule
1pm: Nicola Tuthill – Women’s hammer final
1.05pm: Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m hurdles semi-finals
1:30pm: Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m semi-finals
2.20pm: *Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m hurdles final
*Pending qualification