Sharlene just shone on the biggest of stages in athletics!

What a World Championships Newport AC star Sharlene Mawdsley had. From the off the Tipperary ace looked in good form and like the others on the track representing Ireland, she looked like she was enjoying the big stage.

Her coach, former Olympic athlete Gary Ryan, ensured preparations went according to plan.

Sharlene Mawdsley ran six 400m races between the mixed relay, the individual 400m and the women's relay. Overall the championships were a big success despite the absense of podium finishes.

Sharlene Mawdsley ran a personal best 51.17 over in Hungary and she was also consistently the top anchor when she competed in the relay event.

A top performance in the Mixed Relay gave Ireland a fighting chance last week and again on Sunday it was the Tipperary sprinter that led the way for the Ireland 4x400m Women's Relay team.

The quartet of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker, Kelly McGrory and Roisin Harrison came a credible eighth in Sunday's final in Budapest.

They finished in a time of 3:27.08 but overall the team were punching above their weight as going into the championships they were ranked as the 16th quickest team.

The perfomances were all the better considering Rhasidat Adeleke, the top class Dublin athlete, couldn't compete in the event alongside the Irish team because of a suspected injury affecting her.

In a thrilling relay final the Netherlands once more proved their mettle, the 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol cut a big gap in the home straight to just oust Jamaica for the gold medal. It was Great Britain who took home bronze.

Once again it was Sharlene Mawdsley who anchored Ireland. The Newport AC sprinter achieved a strong final leg which helped Ireland edge out France in the race.

Her burst of speed and acceleration was needed as Ireland had to make up the ground. Going down the home straight Mawdsley kept her focus and finished strongly in the end.

The finishing time was just a second outside the time the Irish team had set in the semi-final which was their season best.

Championship pair Kelly McGrory and Roisin Harrison were new to the event and they both stepped up to the mark alongside the more experienced Mawdsley.

It capped a fine championships for the Tipperary runner. She finished sixth alongside Sophie Becker, Chris O'Donnell and Jack Raftery in the Mixed Relay final, as well as running that individual personal best too.

Overall a top championships from Sharlene Mawdsley and now she will look to the future and bigger successes.