Thomas Barr helps team Ireland to European Gold in Rome

Waterford’s Thomas Barr has helped Ireland to win a gold medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the European Athletics Championships in Rome tonight.

The Dunmore East man was joined in the Irish team by Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley and they finished ahead of Italy and Belgium in a thrilling finish.

O’Donnell led the team off on the first leg as Belgium took an early lead. Adeleke running the same leg as Lieke Klaver took a big lead for Ireland to give to Barr, the Irishman giving to Mawdsley in second. In an exciting final leg against Italy and Belgium, Mawdsley finished ahead.

Ireland came into the championships in form after the World Relays, where they finished in another national record of 3:11.53, improving on their 3:12.50 from the heats the previous day, after a thrilling final showdown against reigning World Champions the USA and the Netherlands. Adeleke’s split was faster than the Dutch star Femke Bol, who clocked 49.63 to hold off Mawdsley for the silver medal by just .08 of a second.

(Additional reporting from Ian O’Riordan of the Irish Times)