Athletics Ireland has announced its team for the 2026 World Athletics Relays, set to take place in Gaborone, Botswana on May 2nd and 3rd.
Ireland will be represented by squads in the women’s 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, and women’s 4x100m relays. Each team will be aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, with the top 12 nations in each event progressing. Additionally, the top six teams in the mixed 4x400m will earn places at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September.
Leading the selection is Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), who returns to international action for the first time since competing at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo. The Tipperary sprinter has been named across all three relay squads, adding further strength and versatility to the team.
Olympic relay finalist Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) is also included in both the women’s and mixed 4x400m squads, alongside Rachel McCann (North Down AC), who was part of the women’s 4x400m team in Tokyo.
Two rising talents, Molly Daly (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC), receive their first senior relay call-ups. Daly impressed with a 53.74 indoor run last month in just her third outing over the distance, while Friel recently set a personal best of 54.20 indoors and is a European Youth Olympic medallist.
Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers) returns to the World Relays after playing an important role in both the mixed and men’s teams in Guangzhou last year. He is joined in the mixed relay by Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) and Fintan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC), who finished first and second respectively at March’s National Senior Indoor Championships.
The women’s 4x100m relay team makes its first appearance at the event since 2021. Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) and Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole AC), both members of that previous squad, are selected again. They are joined by Ciara Neville (Emerald AC), who recently returned to international competition at the World Indoor Championships, and Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC), who could make her senior debut.
Qualification opportunities will be available across both days of competition. On day one, the top two teams in each of the four heats will advance to the finals and automatically secure World Championship qualification.
Teams that do not progress on the opening day will have a second chance, with the top two finishers in each of the additional heats on day two also qualifying.
Finals on the second day will determine prize money positions and World Championship lane seeding.
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Pictured : Sharlene Mawdsley
Photo : Sportsfile/Sam Barnes
