Fitzsimons caps brilliant Irish championships
John Fitzsimons crowned a superb European U20 Championships for Ireland in Grosseto, Italy with a sensational bronze in the men’s 800m today (July 23).
Fitzsimons (Kildare) was ranked 20th going into the championships and scored a surprise bronze in 1:49.15. The Kildare man ran a personal best of 1:48.68 seconds to qualify for the final as a fastest loser and ran brilliant tactical race in the final to win bronze.
The women’s 4x100m relay team of Molly Scott (St Laurence O’Toole), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport), Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock-Louth) and Ciara Neville (Emerald) were a battling fourth in the final in a time of 44.47 seconds.
The men’s 4x100m relay team of Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock), Cillin Greene (Galway City Harriers), Paul McDermott (Donore Harriers) and Joseph Ojewumi (Tallaght) put in a spirited display to finish 7 in their heat in 40.89 seconds. After some slick changeovers McDermott pulled a hamstring mid-race to hand over to Ojewumi on anchor.
Nadia Power (Templeogue) finished 11th in the women’s 1500m final in 4:28.60.
Ireland have won 12 medals previously in the history of this championship and won a brilliant three medals along with multiple finalists, national records and personal bests.
Championship by numbers
Medals
Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock-Louth) gold in the 100m
Michaela Walsh (Swinford) bronze in the hammer
John Fitzsimons (Kildare) bronze in the 800m
Finalists and top 8s
Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock-Louth) 100m - 1st
Ciara Neville (Emerald) 100m - 7th
Nadia Power (Templeogue) 1500m - 11th
Women’s 4x100m relay (Molly Scott, Sharlene Mawdsley, Gina Akpe-Moses, Ciara Neville) 4th
Christopher O’Donnell (North Sligo) 400m – 6th
Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) and Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s) heptathlon – 5th and 8th
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock) 200m – 6th
Michaela Walsh (Swinford) hammer and shot put – 3rd and 7th
James Edgar (City of Lisburn) 5,000m - 11th
National Records
Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) heptathlon - 5,801 points - senior, U23 and U20
Christopher O'Donnell (North Sligo) 400m - 46.54 - U20
