Irish Mixed Relay Finish Sixth, Miss Final at World Athletics Championships Tokyo

The Irish mixed 4x400m relay team experienced a disappointing start at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing sixth in their heat with a time of 3:13.59 and failing to qualify for the final. This performance was significantly slower than their national record of 3:09.92 set last year when they won European gold, with team members acknowledging mistakes and an 'off day' as contributing factors. Jack Raftery and Sophie Becker's efforts were notably impacted, while Conor Kelly, making his World Championship debut, remained optimistic about future competitions. Sharlene Mawdsley, the only returning runner from the European gold-winning squad, emphasized the learning experience and the team's determination to return stronger for the next European Championships. Other Irish athletes faced challenges as well: Oisin Lane finished 28th in the men's 35km race walk, describing a difficult race, and Eric Favors failed to qualify in the men's shot put. Despite the setbacks, the team is focused on upcoming individual events and future championships.