Super gold Sharlene
Outstanding display in European Athletics Championships
A suerb performance by one of the top female athletes in the world has bridged a quarter of a century by regaining European gold for Ireland.
Top rated athlete, Newport Athletic Club's Sharlene Mawdsley stormed to the finish line in style to win European gold for Ireland for the first time in 25 years in the 4x400m mixed Relay at Rome on Friday evening. Sharlene and Team Ireland followed this success with a wonderful silver medal performance in the women's 4x400m Relay on Wednesday.
There was jubilation in the parish, and celebration for Newport AC, with a sense of pride in her achievement as she defied the odds, striding ahead of the favourite in the final leg of the relay.
“It was certainly a weekend to remember for Newport AC. We are so proud of Sharlene's achievements,” a spokesperson for Newport AC exclaimed.
“There was great excitement in the club leading up to the European Championships, where our own Sharlene Mawdsley took to the track. We saw a very exciting race for the 4x400m mixed relay, where Sharlene anchored the team home to secure Ireland’s first gold European medal in 25 years,” added the spokesperson.
It was Ireland's first European gold since Sonia O'Sullivan's achievement quarter of a century ago.
Sharlene took over the baton for the final leg, with Ireland in second place behind an Belgian athlete.
The Irish athlete, moving up from second to first place, looked poised for victory for her country and ran a superb 49.40 split to cross the line first and make history for Ireland by her superb performance over the final 100m.
Her performance over the final leg copperfastened a new national record in the event for Ireland with a time of 3 minutes 9.92 seconds.
Sharlene (25) joined Newport Athletic Club at eight years and early on was identified by club chairman and coach, Rev Fr Bobby Fletcher, as a young athlete with exceptional potential.
Fr Fletcher, who ministered at Newport and neighbouring Ballinahinch parishes prior to his appointment to New Inn five years ago, was succeeded as club chairperson by Ann Fagan and her team of officers, whose input to the development of athletic skills among the members has been enormous. She is now trained by coach and former Tipperary Olympian, Gary Ryan, and continues to rise in world ranking with her target now set on the upcoming Olympics.
Sharlene is as proud of her Newport roots as the parish is of her achievements on the world stage and the honour that she has brought to the parish and the county as one of the greatest ever athletes to come from the region and the country.