Rhasidat Adeleke is once again hitting the headlines today after another sensational run Stateside.
The 20-year-old became the first Irish athlete to ever win an NCAA sprint title overnight in Austin when she took 400m gold in a stunning new Irish record of 49.20s.
She also helped University of Texas win the NCAA women's team title as the points she earned from her 400m performance and the 4x100m relay, which she ran the third leg of, proved crucial.
Adeleke is quickly developing into a household name in Irish sport and speaking after the race to Citius Mag she was eager to heap praise those watching at home.
@rhasidatadeleke speaking after THAT 400m win at the NCAA Championships in the early hours of this morning 🤯🙌🏼🇮🇪
⏱49:20NR pic.twitter.com/ZB1Fbdyxdz— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) June 11, 2023
"The Irish fan base is one of the strongest athletics fan bases in the world," she said.
"You see the way Twitter goes crazy whenever I break a record or win a race.
"I appreciate it so much. It really touches my heart. Having such a strong community behind me really gives me motivation.
It has been a remarkable year to date for Adeleke who only started training properly to tackle the distance last October.
"It was very hard to adjust to. Every practice I was dying," she admitted.
"As I've got used to it, it's got a little bit better. It's still really hard for me but in my first season as a 400m runner, to run 49.2 I'll have to take it."
Her progress has been nothing short of astonishing of late and she will look to continue to improve under the watchful eye of Edrick Floral also known as 'Coach Flo' in the weeks ahead at the University of Texas.
“.. and that’s when you sort of have the magic”.
Rhasidat Adeleke’s coach Edrick Floreal predicted a few months ago that she’d run 49.2 which she did last night to win NCAA gold.
More to come, undoubtedly pic.twitter.com/psl5YfemsU— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) June 11, 2023
The Tallaght native will also have a decision to make shortly as to whether she will continue her collegiate career or bow to the temptation of what could be a lucrative professional deal with a major shoe company.
Either way it is massively exciting times for the star of Irish athletics and one of the stars of Irish sport at the moment as she looks ahead to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
SEE ALSO: Rhasidat Adeleke Moves To Whole New Level With Insane NCAA Victory
