World Athletics Relays, Gaborone , Botswana 2026 

Tipperary athletics was proudly represented on the world stage last weekend as local stars Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) and Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) were part of the Irish team at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana.

Leading from the front, Sharlene Mawdsley who carried the immense honour of captaining the Irish squad,  her experience proved vital on Day Two of the championships when she anchored the women’s 4 x 400m relay team.

Sunday’s 4 x 400m relay repechage was the last chance for the team to qualify for the World Championships in Beijing next year. Starting off on lead leg was Rachel McCann with a solid 52.35 leg, who then handed the baton over to Sophie Becker who ran an impressive 51.84 leg. Arlene Crossan received the baton and ran a superb leg in 51.30 to hand over to Sharlene in 3rd. We then witnessed an unbelievable 48.34 last leg from Sharlene, who closed down the Jamaican & French teams to their repechage in 3:28.83 & automatically qualify for Beijing!

The path to Gaborone began in the plains of South Africa, where Katie and Sharlene completed a rigorous 10-day high-performance training camp in Stellenbosch.

Under intense heat and world-class training conditions, the preparation allowed the athletes to sharpen their changeovers and fine-tune their speed before traveling to Botswana, for the Tipperary duo, this period was an invaluable bonding and conditioning window. It bridged the gap between the indoor season and elite summer relay racing.

While Katie did not line out on the track in the 4 x 100m heats, her first senior international call-up marks a massive career milestone. The trip offered Bergin unprecedented exposure to the highest tier of global track and field.

Training and traveling alongside elite veterans like Mawdsley provided the young Moyne AC sprint star with crucial experience that will undoubtedly fuel her upcoming individual and international campaigns.

 

Gerry Donohoe

Track PRO