Paris 2024: Tiny margins... but the sky's the limit for Irish women's relay team

The final night of the track and field at Paris 2024 - and an Irish team are part of the concluding act.

The 4x400 women's relay team of Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley, while not fancied in the view of most observers to take a medal, delivered a performance that was worthy of a place on the podium.

A week ago, hopes were higher that the mixed relay team could be in the mix. They exited at the semi-final stage.

On Friday morning, minus Adeleke and with Kelly McGrory as part of the quartet, the Irish finished third in their heat to qualify: seventh fastest of the eight teams qualified.

Okay, you're in the final and anything can happen. And it did!

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The United States took a dominant gold in a continental record of 3:15.27. With that settled, a thriller of sorts was being played out behind. Ireland and Becker were in sixth when the baton was passed to Adeleke. The express train was coming.

Much was said about a certain lack of fluidity in Adeleke's running during her passage to the 400m final. No such question hung over her leg as the decibel levels in the stadium ratcheted up. From sixth to second. We're right in this after a 48.92 from the Tallaght woman.

Healy then gamely held her ground before passing to Mawdsley.

The Tipperary native, celebrating her 26th birthday. was third approaching the final bend but was agonisingly pipped to the bronze medal place on the line by Great Britain, who clocked a national record of 3:19.72 - a mark that