Rhasidat Adeleke starts professional career with 200m event at 2023 Istvan Gyulai meeting
Rhasidat Adeleke will begin her professional career at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial meeting in Hungary on Tuesday after the Irish athlete opted to forgo her senior year in the collegiate ranks as a student at the University of Texas.
The 20 year old will run in the 200m event at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting where she will race reigning World 200m champion and the second fastest woman ever over the distance, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson.
The Irish 200m and 400m record holder on Monday announced she is turning professional after three years as a student athlete recruited on scholarship by the University of Texas.
“I’m extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to represent the University of Texas these past three years.
“I couldn’t have made a better decision! I’d like to thank absolutely everyone who supported me along the way and those that helped me become who I am today.
“However, I’d like to announce that I am forgoing the remainder of my eligibility and becoming a professional athlete,” Adeleke posted on Instagram.
Born to Nigerian parents, Adeleke has a phenomenal 2022/23 season in the American collegiate circuit.
The Corporate Communication was part of three collegiate records at the Texas Relays, breaking the 4×100 record (42.00), the 4×200 record (1:28.05) and the sprint medley relay record (3:36.10).
She ran a lifetime best in the 200m at 22.34 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational and in 49.20 in the 400m on her way to winning the NCAA outdoor championships gold medal in Austin, Texas.
