Irish senior men finish seventh at European Race Walking Team Championships
The Irish senior men’s team finished seventh this afternoon (May 21st) at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Poděbrady, Czech Republic.
David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley A.C.), Oisín Lane (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) and Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley A.C.) were the three Irish scoring members in the 20km race which took place in tough conditions in City Park.
Kenny was the first Irish finisher as he crossed the line in 16th. The Kerry man clocked a season’s best of 1:24:31, a nine second improvement on his best time so far for the distance in 2023. The Tokyo 2020 Olympian will be hoping to lower that time in the months ahead as he builds towards the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August.
Oisín Lane would have been pleased with what was his first Irish senior international appearance. Coached by his father Michael, Lane walked strongly to finish in 22nd in 1:26:26. The time is less than thirty seconds off the UL student’s personal best set at the 123.ie National Championships in Raheny last December and is a season’s best.
Three-time Olympian Brendan Boyce finished in 29th in a time of 1:27:57.
Matthew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) failed to finish but will have gained valuable senior international experience on the trip.
Ireland were also represented in the U20 Men’s 10km race by Andrew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) and Jake O’Brien (Moy Valley A.C.).
Glennon finished 18th in 46:29, just four seconds outside his personal best set in Douglas, Isle of Man earlier this year.
O’Brien crossed the line in 25th in a season’s best of 48:59.
The duo’s positions resulted in a ninth place team finish.
The Irish team will now turn their focus to a busy summer ahead each with individual goals in mind. There are major events on the horizon with a European U20 Championships, European U23 Championships and World Championships all taking place in July and August.