RHADISAT Adeleke sealed her spot in Friday’s 400m final - but there were concerns over the manner in which she finished last night’s race at a packed Stade de France.
Coming into the Paris Olympics with huge expectations upon her young shoulders, the 21-year-old looked edgy on the blocks, with a second false start of the week - this time following an indiscretion from Dutch rival Lieke Klaver – not helping any nerves.
However, Adeleke struggled to find form in the last 100 metres to finish second in 49.95 behind Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser – who was previously banned for missing four anti-doping tests – with the two top advancing to Friday’s final.
Norwegian Henriette Jaeger was breathing down the Dubliner’s neck coming down the straight while European bronze medallist Klaver, warned rather than disqualified for her false start, was left devasted after finishing fourth.
As expected, last night’s semi-final was a total contrast to Tuesday’s heat, when medal hope Adeleke oozed confidence on her Olympic debut to ease through.
But this was always going to be the first major test and, while she passed it – becoming the first ever Irishwoman to make an Olympic sprint final in the process – aspects of her performance left more questions than answers.
The Tallaght sprinter didn’t come through the post-race mixed zone in Paris, with fatigue the reason given for Adeleke’s no-show. There was no suggestion she would not be fit to run in Friday’s final.
“It was very messy, it was a very messy race,” she told RTE.
“I’m just excited that I’m able to get into the final and fix everything for when I do get into the final. First time [before the false start] they held us really long and I think I was ready to go then.
“But when we went again I feel I was just thinking about it too much and didn’t execute my first 100m as I should have… I didn’t execute my first 200m as I should have but that’s all things we can fix for the final.
“I think I also panicked a little bit, which made me break form really early, but I’m excited, I’ve made the final and I can give it my best shot.”
Despite the physical toll taken, Adeleke insisted she wasn’t concerned about any potential knock-on ahead of the final.
“Back to square one, go again.
“I’ve been in a place where the rounds may not have went as I wanted them to but the final went great so I’m not too worried about it.
“It [the Irish support] was unreal again today. When I got into the blocks I was like ‘let’s do this’ and hopefully it’s going to be the final. I’m sure it will be.
“It means so much.”
The semi-final draw had been favourable to Adeleke in some respects, as she avoided her three main medal rivals – world champion Marileidy Paulino of Dominican Republic, Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica and Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland.
All three advanced to the final, alongside Adeleke, Naser, Alexis Holmes, Jaeger as fastest runner-up and Team GB’s Amber Anning.
Adeleke’s time was the sixth fastest on the night, though she received a boost last night after being drawn in lane four for Friday’s final, with Anning outside her in lane five.
