Donegal woman Kelly McGrory has helped the Irish women’s relay team to reach the final of the 4×400 metres final at the World Championships.
The Ireland team of McGrory, Sharlene Mawdsley, Roisin Harrison and Sophie Becker are through to final of the 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships, with the disqualification of the USA team bumping them up as one of the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
McCrory, who runs with Tir Chonaill AC, played no small part in the quest for final glory.
The Irish quartet clocked a season’s best time of 3:26.18 to finish fifth in their heat, but were subsequently elevated to fourth after the USA, who finished second, were penalised for an illegal baton change.
The race witnessed another fine performance from Mawdsley, who ran the fastest of all final legs in the second heat in a time of 50.01.
It may have all been in vain but for the American disaster on the final leg. In a duel with Great Britain at the head of the field, Quanera Hayes missed on several attempts to hand the stick to anchor runner Alexis Holmes.
When they finally did make the exchange, they were out of the legal passing zone.
While they crossed the line in second spot behind Team GB, their disqualification was soon confirmed and Ireland were elevated to fourth, taking one of the fastest non-automatic spots.
