Rhasidat Adeleke is fulfiling the promise she made in February after running 50.33 to break her Irish 400m indoor record on her way to winning the Big 12 Conference final in Texas.
The 20 year old took to her twitter page at the time to express her surprise at her accomplishments and vowed to run even faster.
‘If you told me after 4 months of training for the 400m, I’d be running 50.3 indoors I would’ve laughed.
I’m soo grateful, but I’m not done yet. I appreciate all the support!’, she tweeted in February.
The University of Texas student has transferred her incredible performances indoors to the outdoor season and she has helped her school to record-breaking feats since the start of the collegiate outdoor season.
She ran an incredible 49.47 split to ensure University of Texas 4x400m relay team hold off NCAA indoor champion/US indoor record holder Britton Wilson from snatching victory in a spectacular final leg to close off the Texas Relays in an equally spectacular fashion.
Adeleke will certainly be one to watch out for this outdoor season.
She was one of the 41 women athletes the NCAA.com projected to have a big say in who wins what this outdoor season.
‘Adeleke began running the 400 meters this indoor season and broke the collegiate record. As she gains more experience in the 400, she’s primed to compete for a title.’ wrote the NCAA.com.
The Irish-Nigerian’s performances have also made Olympic legend Michael Johnson to predict there are big things in store for the 20 year old.
Commenting on her showing last month after the NCAA indoor championships semi-final heats, Johnson wrote: “Look out when she learns to use those arms. She’s carrying them instead using them to drive the legs.
“The difference is significant over 400. Helps increase speed and reduce fatigue.”
Adeleke has been predicted to become the first Irish athlete to run inside 50 seconds outdoors in the 400m and will surely break her 50.53 lifetime best set last August.
