FOUR IRISH ATHLETES SECURE FINAL SPOTS ON OPENING DAY OF EUROPEAN ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TAMPERE

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FOUR IRISH ATHLETES SECURE FINAL SPOTS ON OPENING DAY OF EUROPEAN ATHLETICS U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TAMPERE

7 August 2025

Precious Akpe-Moses (100m), Cormac Dixon (3000m), Cian Crampton (Discus Throw) and Theo Hanlon (Shot Put) all advanced to finals of their respective events on the opening day of the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

Competing in the Women’s 100m, Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) who’s older sister Gina won this title in 2017, produced two excellent performances in the heats and semi-finals. The Louth native who is based in the UK finished second in her heat (11.66, -2.0m/s), before clocking a new personal best of 11.62 (+0.7m/s) in cool conditions to also finish second in her semi-final, which sealed her place in tomorrow evening’s decider as the fourth fastest qualifier.

Speaking afterwards to Athletics Ireland, Akpe-Moses expressed her delight at making the final.

“I’m feeling good, I just wanted to get through. I didn’t really think about who was in my race, just get through, get the job done,” she said. “If I don’t get in, I don’t get in, but I got in! I feel good, happy, confident, we’ll see what happens.”

Cian Crampton (Edenderry AC) also qualified in fourth for his final of the Men’s Discus Throw on Saturday. The former European Youth Olympic and European U18 medallist threw a best of 57.94 metres in Qualification Group A, comfortably progressing.

Theo Hanlon (Suncroft AC) made it an excellent day for Irish field eventing, qualifying for the Men’s Shot Put final in ninth position overall. Hanlon had a best throw of 18.00m, just outside the personal best he recorded earlier in the season and will be aiming to surpass that in tomorrow morning’s final.

In the Men’s 3000m heats, Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) illustrated his class to ease into the final. The Dubliner who is studying at Providence College in America finished fourth in his heat in 8:19.80, smiling as he crossed the line in celebration with Sweden’s Karl Ottfalk.

There was disappointment however in the middle-distance events as Oisin Lynch (Killarney Valley AC, 800m) and Gemma Galvin (Ennis Track AC, 1500m) both failed to advance to finals.

Lynch finished fifth in his heat of the Men’s 800m in 1:50.88, while Galvin was seventh in her heat in 4:25.06, missing a final spot by one place.

Earlier in the day, both Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC) and Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) advanced to the semi-finals of the Men’s 400m with relative ease.

Kelly, who has represented Ireland at the senior European Indoor Championships and World Athletics Relays this year, clocked a time of 46.94 seconds to win his heat. Doggett was drawn in lane one and ran a time of 47.59 seconds to finish second in his heat.

There was disappointment for Alex Cullen (Kilkenny City Harriers) who was making his major international championship debut. He finished fifth in his heat in 48.40 seconds and won’t progress.

In the Men’s 400m Hurdles, Ethan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC) false started and was disqualified from his heat. Both himself and Cullen will now look to bolster the Men’s 4x400m relay team who compete in the heats on Saturday.

Results Summary – Day One – European Athletics U20 Championships

Morning Session

Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) – Men’s 400m – 2^nd, Heat Three (47.59Q)
Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC) – Men’s 400m – 1^st, Heat Four (46.94Q)
Alex Cullen (Kilkenny City Harriers) – Men’s 400m – 5^th, Heat Five (48.40)
Precious Akpe Moses (Blackrock AC) – Women’s 100m – 2^nd, Heat Five (11.66Q, -2.0m/s)
Theo Hanlon (Suncroft AC) – Men’s Shot Put – 4^th, Qualification Group B (18.00m q)
Ethan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC) – Men’s 400m Hurdles – DQ, Heat Four

Evening Session

Cian Crampton (Edenderry AC) – Men’s Discus Throw – 2^nd, Qualification Group A (57.94m q)
Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) – Men’s 3000m – 4^th, Heat One (8:19.80Q)
Oisin Lynch (Killarney Valley AC) – Men’s 800m – 5^th, Heat One (1:50.88)
Gemma Galvin (Ennis Track AC) – Women’s 1500m – 7^th, Heat Two (4:25.06)
Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) – Women’s 100m – 2^nd, SF One (11.62 PB Q, +0.7m/s)

Irish in Action – Day Two – European Athletics U20 Championships

Morning Session – Friday August 8^th

Dearbhla Allen – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Round One – Heat One – 08:10 (10:10)
Caoimhe Flannery – Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Round One – Heat Two – 08:28 (10:28)
Dubem Amah – Men’s 200m – Round One – Heat Four – 09:40 (11:40)
Precious Akpe-Moses – Women’s 200m – Round One – Heat Four – 10:24 (12:24)
Theo Hanlon – Men’s Shot Put – Final – 10:20 (12:20)
Sean Cronin – Men’s 1500m – Round One – Heat One – 11:00 (13:00)
Frank Buchanan – Men’s 1500m – Round One – Heat Two – 11:13 (13:00)

Evening Session – Friday August 8^th