Mawdsley out of European Championships with injury

Ireland’s Sharlene Mawdsley has withdrawn from the European Athletics Championships after failing to recover from a hamstring injury sustained at the national championships last month.

The championships get under way in Birmingham on Monday and run until 16 August.

Mawdsley was set to race in the individual 400m and the women’s 4x400m relay, having been part of the team that won silver in the championships two years ago in Rome.

She sustained the injury in the 200m at the National Championships at Santry on 25 July in a race won by Rhasidat Adeleke.

In a statement, the Tipperary athlete – who will turn 28 on the opening day of the championships – said she had “pushed the limits” in her attempted recovery.

“We made huge progress after I was diagnosed with a tear in my hamstring, but unfortunately the timing just wasn’t on my side.

“I can’t thank my team enough. They have worked around the clock to give me every possible chance, and we really pushed the limits together.

“We’ll keep working hard, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the track later this season.”