Walsh and King star in Bydgoszcz with national records

Walsh and King star on Day 2

Micheala Walsh (Swinford) and Adam King (Iveragh) starred on the second day of the World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz setting national U20 shot put and hammer records respectively.

Walsh has been setting new standards in the throws in the last number of years and that upward trajectory continued in Poland when she advanced to the final of the women’s shot put with a best of 15.31m – adding 16cm to her old record she set this summer when she won the England U20 Championships.

The Swinford athlete finished 11th in the final this evening with a best of 14.71m. She finished 10th in the World Youths last year and this is further progress as she builds towards the European Junior Championships next year.

It was a great morning for the throwers with Adam King making the U20 men’s hammer final with a national U20 record of 71.60m. Unfortunately Owen Russell (St Andrew’s) missed out on the final by just one place - he finished 13th overall with a best of 70.34m. The hammer final takes place on Friday (July 22).

Carla Sweeney (WSAF) and Louise Shanahan (Leevale) bowed out of the women's 800m at the World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz this evening, both finishing 6th in their respective semi-finals. Shanahan finished 6th in the first semi-final with a season’s best of 2:08.43 while Sweeney was 6th in the third 800m semi-final in 2:07.78.

Jenna Bromell (Emerald) finished 8th in the third 400m semi-final in 55.20.

You can watch video interviews with the athletes on the Athletics Ireland Facebook page HERE

Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) gets her heptathlon campaign underway tomorrow while Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) competes in the heats of the 200m.

Irish timetable July 21

Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) 200m heats 12:00

Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) Heptathlon