Adeleke makes it a double success in Tallinn with 200m triumph

By Daire Walsh

Tallaght’s Rhasidat Adeleke crowned a remarkable few days at the European U20 Athletics Championships in Tallinn by securing the Women’s 200m title in the Estonian capital earlier this afternoon.

This followed hot on the heels of her 100m final success yesterday, where she held off stiff competition from Serbia’s Ivana Ilic and Joy Eze of Great Britain to come home in a time of 11.34 seconds.

The former Presentation Community College, Terenure student is no stranger to double triumphs having claimed first place in the same events at the European Youth Olympics Festival in Baku two years ago.

She came through today’s 200m heat with flying colours – her time of 23.27 seconds ensuring a first place finish that had her in fine fettle for the subsequent final at 3.55pm (Irish time).

There was plenty of pressure on Adeleke’s shoulders following her stunning performances in the 100 metres on Friday, but the Tallaght AC star took it all in her stride.

Registering an outstanding time of 22.90, she comfortably saw off the challenges posed by Minke Bisschops (Netherlands) and Success Eduan (Great Britain) – who came home at 23.55 and 23.62 respectively.

This was an Irish record-breaking time from Adeleke, but there was an even greater significance to her achievements in Tallinn this week.

Now based at the University of Texas, she became the first athlete since Jodie Williams a decade ago to win a 100m/200m double at the European U20 Championships.

With a European U18 200m gold medal also listed amongst her list of accolades from 2018, Adeleke’s star has risen substantially in recent years and there is no sign of her slowing down any time soon.