Rhasidat Adeleke nails final chance as she secures European Championships qualifying time

Rhasidat Adeleke seized her final opportunity to qualify for the European Championships in the 200 meters, delivering a stellar performance at the National Championships in Santry. She powered across the finish line in 22.80 seconds, surpassing the A-standard of 22.85 seconds despite facing a -1.1 headwind.

Adeleke, running in front of her home crowd, expressed immense gratitude for the support, which she credited with lifting her spirits during a challenging year. "I wouldn't be able to do it without this crowd here, honestly," she stated. "I knew that if I can do it anywhere, it’s at home, so thank you to everyone who supported me. So many sent me such nice messages. I think there’s some times you’re in like a bad place and you kind of think the worst of yourself. And you see the amount of people who are showing you love and support and it just lifts my spirits."

This crucial qualification comes after Adeleke narrowly missed the mark in Lucerne the previous week, finishing fourth with a time of 23.07 seconds. While she had previously abandoned her pursuit of qualifying for the 400 meters, an event where she won silver two years ago, she has now secured her place in the 200m. She is also a potential contender for the women's 4x400m relay team.

“

I wouldn't be able to do it without this crowd here, honestly. I knew that if I can do it anywhere, it’s at home, so thank you to everyone who supported me. So many sent me such nice messages. I think there’s some times you’re in like a bad place and you kind of think the worst of yourself. And you see the amount of people who are showing you love and support and it just lifts my spirits.