Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) has finished seventh in the 100m final at the European U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland this evening (Aug 8th).
Running from lane three, the Blackrock AC athlete got away from the blocks well before finding her stride to cross in 11.79.
The European sprint finalist did not speak with media post-race as her attention swiftly turned to tomorrow afternoon’s 200m semi-final. Akpe-Moses produced a strong third place finish of 24.22Q in this morning’s 200m heats to secure one of the automatic qualifying spots for the semi-final set for 12.36pm tomorrow (Irish time).
The women’s 100m medals went the way of Kelly-Ann Maevane Doualla Edimo (ITA) 11.22, Mabel Akande (GBR) 11.41, and Uliana Stepaniuk (UKR) 11.53.
Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC) and Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) lit up the men’s 400m semi-finals earlier in this afternoon’s session. Kelly was all class in winning the first of the 400m semi-finals, comfortably booking his place in tomorrow’s final with a 46.58Q (fourth fastest overall).
Doggett shortly followed Kelly into tomorrow’s 400m final with a new lifetime best of 46.52Q (third fastest overall) on his way to second place in his respective semi-final, marking another huge step forward for the 2025 national U20 400m indoor and outdoor champion.
Both athletes will be back out on track tomorrow evening for the 400m medal-decider which is set for a 6.25pm start (Sat 9th, Irish time).
The evening session also saw Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge AC) go in the final of the men’s 5000m. The Celbridge athlete led out the pack over the opening laps before an injection of pace saw him lose positions as the race reached its climax. Gleeson would stay on bravely to cross in 17th in 14:37.99.
Team Ireland made a strong impression right from the off on Day 2 with the 3000m steeplechasers leading the charge. Dearbhla Allen (St Peter’s AC) delivered a superb personal best performance of 10:27.16q to finish sixth in Heat 1. While just outside the automatic qualifying spots, Allen advanced to the final as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers —making history as the first-ever athlete from St Peter’s AC to compete at these championships.
Joining her in Saturday’s final will be Caoimhe Flannery (Skibbereen AC) who also clocked a PB of 10:30.33q in Heat 2 to secure her place. Both athletes will take to the final full of confidence as they look to round out a superb championship showing.
On the sprints side, Dubem Amah (Tallaght AC) impressed in the Men’s 200m, finishing 2nd in his heat with 21.62Q to earn automatic qualification for Saturday’s semi-final.
In the Men’s 1500m, Seán Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers) advanced to the final with a time of 3:47.13, securing a fastest non-automatic qualifying spot. Frank Buchanan (St Michael’s Enniskillen) also gave a strong account of himself in Heat 2, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after a well-executed race.
Pia Langton of Kilkenny City Harriers (5th in Heat One, 2:09.42) and Saoirse Fitzgerald of Lucan Harriers (8th in Heat Two, 2:09.84) gave it everything in tough qualifying conditions in the women’s 800m. While neither advanced this time, both have banked some valuable championship experience.
In the field events, Theo Hanlon (Suncroft AC) held his own in the Men’s Shot Put final, finishing 11th with a best of 17.06m. Hanlon had earlier broken the 18m barrier in qualifying, marking a significant milestone in his development.
Results Summary – Day Two – European Athletics U20 Championships
Morning Session – Friday August 8th
- Dearbhla Allen – Women’s 3000m SC – Round One – 6th, Heat One (10:27.16 PB q)
- Caoimhe Flannery – Women’s 3000m SC – Round One – 9th,Heat Two (10:30.33 PB q)
- Dubem Amah – Men’s 200m – Round One – 2nd, Heat Four (21.62 Q)
- Precious Akpe-Moses – Women’s 200m – Round One – 3rd, Heat Four (24.22Q)
- Theo Hanlon – Men’s Shot Put – Final – 11th (17.06m)
- Sean Cronin – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 8th, Heat One (3:47.13 q)
- Frank Buchanan – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 8th, Heat Two (3:58.50)
- Conor Kelly – Men’s 400m – 1st, SF 1 (46.58 Q)
- Sean Doggett – Men’s 400m – 2nd, SF 3 (46.52Q)
- Pia Langton – Women’s 800m – Round One – 5th, Heat One (2:09.42)
- Saoirse Fitzgerald – Women’s 800m – Round One – 8th, Heat Two (2:09.84)
- Cillian Gleeson – Men’s 5000m – Final – 17th (14:37.99)
- Precious Akpe-Moses – Women’s 100m – Final – 7th (11.79)
Irish in Action – Day Three – European Athletics U20 Championships
Morning Session – Saturday August 9th
- Enya Silkena – Women’s Heptathlon – 100m Hurdles – 08:15 (10:15)
- Enya Silkena – Women’s Heptathlon – High Jump – 09:30 (11:30)
- Women’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 10:50 (12:50)
- Men’s 4x400m Relay – Round One – 11:25 (13:25)
- Dubem Amah – Men’s 200m – SF – 12:00 (14:00)
- Precious Akpe-Moses – Women’s 200m – SF – 12:30 (14:30)
Evening Session – Saturday August 9th
- Enya Silkena – Women’s Heptathlon – Shot Put – 15:00 (17:00)
- Cian Crampton – Men’s Discus Throw – Final – 15:15 (17:15)
- Precious Akpe-Moses – Women’s 200m – Final – 15:35 (17:35) *
- Dubem Amah – Men’s 200m – Final – 15:45 (17:45) *
- Dearbhla Allen – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Final – 15:55 (17:55)
- Caoimhe Flannery – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Final – 15:55 (17:55)
- Enya Silkena – Women’s Heptathlon – 200m – 16:15 (18:15)
- Women’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 17:10 (19:10)
- Men’s 4x100m Relay – Round One – 17:40 (19:40)
- Cormac Dixon – Men’s 3000m – Final – 18:05 (20:05)
- Conor Kelly – Men’s 400m – Final – 18:25 (20:25)
- Sean Doggett – Men’s 400m – Final – 18:25 (20:25)
*Subject to advancing
Full Results are HERE
