Irish marathon teams announced for European Championships

11 Irish athletes have been selected to run the marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin this August (7-12).

The 11-strong team includes five Olympians – Lizzie Lee (Leevale), Breege Connolly (North Belfast Harriers), Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock), Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) and Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s) – and a number of athletes in good form.

Kevin Seaward recently finished fourth in the marathon for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast while Stephen Scullion ran a personal best of 2:15:55 at the London marathon last weekend.

The team has bags of experience with the vast majority of the team seasoned internationals.

The marathon in Berlin also encompasses the European Cup team competition and the Irish teams will be looking to combine well collectively as well as individually.

High Performance Director Paul McNamara said:

“We’ve seen a steady increase in the standard of Irish Marathoning in recent years and it is significant to be in a position to select 11 athletes for the European Marathon Championships including the European Marathon Team Cup.  Both of these teams should be highly competitive in Berlin based on past results.  In 2014, the last edition of this event, we had no sub-2:17 performers start the men’s race, while now we have 6 athletes comfortably inside that standard, while 4 of the 5 women selected have significant championship experience.  The early selection date allows these athletes to focus on optimal preparation to produce a peak performance at the championships.”

Women               

Breege Connolly (North Belfast Harriers AC), Donie Walsh           

Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers AC), Matt Shields 

Laura Graham (Mourne Runners AC), Ryan Maxwell      

Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC), Donie Walsh      

Claire McCarthy (Leevale AC), Ronan Boland      

Men

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Jerry Kiernan       

Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock AC), Dick Hooper         

Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF AC), Dick Hooper           

Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders AC), Andy Hobdell          

Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Stephen Haas  

Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s AC), Andy Hobdell               

*name after club indicates coach