Improving Mawdsley happy with World Championship performance

By Thomas Conway

As Sharlene Mawdsley’s individual World Championships drew to a close on Tuesday in Tokyo, the cut-throat quality of 400 metre women’s sprinting was on full display.

In the end, the Newport athlete exited her signature event at the semi-final stage, clocking a time of 51.22s and finishing eighth from lane 2 in a stacked race that also contained American Olympic medallist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (1st, 48.29), Brit Amber Anning (2nd, 49.38) and Jamaican sprint queen Nikisha Pryce (3rd, 49.86).

It has been an emotional rollercoaster of a year for Mawdsley off the track following the death of her father during the summer, but her performances on the track have still followed that same steady trajectory, lilting upwards.

The prevailing sentiment on Sunday had been one of unchecked delight from the 27 year-old, as she secured a semi-final berth by producing a gutsy run from lane nine to clock a time of 51.04s and finish fourth. There was more a sense of realism in the aftermath of Tuesday’s semi-final, but rather than look dejected, Mawdsley cut a sanguine and determined figure.

“I’m actually proud of that,” she said.

“Look, it’s where I’m at. This year was never smooth sailing. I’m not going to fool myself and think that I’m capable of making that final right now because I’m not. But I made the European final last year. That’s obviously where I want to be next year. Working my way up the ranks, and again in Beijing.”

Next year’s European Championships and the 2027 World Championships in Beijing are key junctures on the road to LA2028.

Mawdsley referenced the fact that the five-week break in her season, brought on by the untimely death of her father, affected her both mentally and physically. However, she remained confident that she could regain that fitness over the course of the winter months.

“I know I was in such good shape earlier this year,” she added.

“I’ll just go back into winter, put that solid work in, and hopefully next year I’ll be able to produce what I’m capable of.

“I’m hungry for it and I think that’s so important. This year I’m fighting to the line. I’m hurting, but I'm fighting my way through and I think that’s something I have to be proud of.”

Mawdsley’s efforts in Tokyo rank her twentieth in the world and comes at the end of a long and at times difficult season in which she secured both the Irish national indoor and outdoor 200 metre titles.

She was also part of the Ireland 4×400 metre mixed relay team which failed to qualify from their heat during the opening session of the championships on Saturday. The quartet of Sophie Becker, Conor Kelly, Jack Rafferty & Mawdsley finished a disappointing sixth in their heat in an event which was ultimately won by the United States.

She will compete again in the Women’s 4x400 metre relays this Saturday, at 12 noon. Having come second in last year’s European Championship, the Irish team will be contention to make a final. However, the absence of star sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke is likely to dent their prospects.