Adeleke withdraws from Belgian race as European Championships deadline nears

Rhasidat Adeleke's prospects for qualifying for next month's European Championships in Birmingham have significantly dimmed after her withdrawal from the 400m event at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder on Saturday. The final deadline for qualification is just over a week away, on Sunday.

Adeleke had already faced disappointment earlier in the week, failing to meet the 200m qualifying standard in Lucerne. Her time of 23.07 seconds placed her fourth, falling short of the 22.85 required for Birmingham. This withdrawal from the 400m in Belgium follows a similar pull-out from the Monaco Diamond League last week, raising concerns about her form and ability to secure qualification spots.

The 400m qualifying standard of 51.20 seconds is a mark Adeleke has previously surpassed with ease. It remains uncertain whether the 23-year-old sprinter will compete at the National Track and Field Championships next weekend, which coincides with the final day for European qualification.

Adeleke herself described her comeback 400m race at the Eugene Diamond on July 4th as "beyond rough." She finished a distant last in 52.26 seconds, more than three seconds slower than her Irish record of 49.07 set in 2024. Meanwhile, other Irish athletes achieved notable performances: Mark English ran a personal best in the 800m, Sarah Healy set a lifetime best in the 3,000m, and Lucie Cawley and Emma Hickey secured silver medals at the European Under-18 Championships.

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beyond rough