Euro Standard For McMahon

Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC) secured the qualification standard in the 400m Hurdles for the European Track and Field Championships in Zurich. McMahon ran a time of 56.97 to finish in second place at the Nivelles International Meeting in Belgium held on Saturday, 28th of June. The time was just inside the required standard of 57 seconds for the Europeans. The race was won by Anneri Ebersohn (ZAF) in a time of 56.85.

Irish Long Jump Record Holder Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) was also in action in Nivelles as she competed in the 100m and 200m events. Proper won the 200m in a time of 23.53 and placed fourth in the 100m in a new season’s best of 11.70. Irish Junior 100m Hurdles Record Holder Sarah Lavin (UCD AC) showed consistent form to win her specialist event in a time of 13.46.

Junior Athletes Zac Irwin & Cliodhna Manning Impress

Zak Irwin (Sligo AC) impressed in the 200m to win the event in a new personal best of 21.34, more importantly the time was another B-standard for Irwin for the World Junior Championships which take place in Eugene, Oregan in July. Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) also ran the B-standard by equalling the standard with a time of 24.50 to finish second in her 200m race.

The junior athletes will now focus on the national junior championships taking place in Cork IT on the 6th of July.

Le Cheile International

The inaugural Le Cheile International took place in Leixlip on Friday 27th of June with a number of Ireland’s top athletes competing alongside a host of international stars. Laura Crowe (An Riocht AC) and Roseanne Galligan (Newbridge AC) battled it out in the 800m. Crowe was the stronger of the two over the last 100m to take a fine victory in a time of 2.04.74 with Galligan second in a time of 2.05.30.

There was a classy men’s mile race with three men dipping under four minutes including Ireland’s Kevin Batt (St. Coca’s AC) who finished third in a time of 3.59.53. It wasn’t all about the middle distance events as Irish 400m Hurdles Record Holder Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) comfortable won his race in a time of 49.91 as he continues his preparations for Zurich. 

Team Announcement

The full Irish Team  for the European Championships will be announced on the 21st of July at a Press Conference after the National Track and Field Championships (19th/20th).  There is an expectation that this team will be made up of over 25 athletes, making it one of the largest Irish teams ever to compete at the championships. With development athletes (those aged 24 and under) expected to form a large continent of the team, this championship will form an integral part of their performance development towards Rio 2016 and beyond.