STRONG IRISH TEAM SELECTED FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Athletics Ireland are delighted to announce a squad of over 35 athletes for the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Munich on August 15-21.
Previous European championship medal winners Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC), Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC), and Mark English (Finn Valley AC) will spearhead the Irish contingent alongside world indoor finalist Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC).
The Irish relay teams have enjoyed tremendous success in global competition over the past 12 months and the women’s 4x400m team looks particularly strong with Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers), and Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC) all confirmed to travel to Munich.
Four-time Olympian Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC) heads up a strong women’s marathon team (all previously selected) which also includes Aoife Cooke (Eagle AC) and Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC).
McCormack will be joined in Munich by fellow Tokyo Olympians Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC), Sarah Healy (UCD AC), Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC), Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers), David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley AC), Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC), Chris O'Donnell (North Sligo AC), Eilish Flanagan (Finn Valley AC), Leon Reid (Menapians AC), Michelle Finn (Leevale AC), and Alex Wright (Leevale AC).
The team also includes an excellent blend of developing athletes including Kate O'Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC), and the recent record-breaking UCD pair of Darragh McElhinney and Israel Olatunde.
Speaking at today’s team announcement, Athletics Ireland Director of High Performance, Paul McNamara said:
“ With 31 individual athletes selected this is the largest cohort we have ever sent to a major championship, despite the higher qualification standards than any previous edition of this championships, and with 25 athletes inside the A standard. This team includes multiple athletes, both seasoned campaigners and rising stars, that are primed to make an impact, demonstrating both enhanced depth and breadth in our athlete cohort. It’s been a busy season with World Championships and Commonwealth Games for many of this squad, but the European Championships has been the primary focus for 2022”.
Full Team:
| Hiko Haso | 10,000m | DSD AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Efrem Gidey | 10,000m | Clonliffe Harriers AC | Peter McDermott |
| Israel Olatunde | 100m & 4x100m Relay | UCD AC | Daniel Kilgallon |
| Sarah Lavin | 100mH | Emerald AC | Noelle Morrissey |
| Luke McCann | 1500m | UCD AC | Clark McCann |
| Sarah Healy | 1500m | UCD AC | Eoghan Marnell |
| Andrew Coscoran | 1500m | Star of the Sea AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Marcus Lawler | 200m & 4x100m Relay | Clonliffe Harriers AC | Shane McCormack |
| David Kenny | Withdrawn | Farranfore Maine Valley | Robert Heffernan |
| Eilish Flanagan | 3000mSC | Finn Valley AC | Damon Martin |
| Michelle Finn | 3000mSC | Leevale AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Alex Wright | Withdrawn | Leevale AC | Lauren Wright |
| *Brendan Boyce | 35km Walk | Finn Valley AC | Robert Heffernan |
| Chris O'Donnell | 400m | North Sligo AC | Benke Blomkvist |
| Rhasidat Adeleke | 400m & 4x400m Relay | Tallaght AC | Edrick Floreal |
| Sophie Becker | 4x400m Relay | Raheny Shamrock AC | Jeremy Lyons & Gerard O'Donnell |
| Phil Healy | 400m & 4x400m Relay | Bandon AC | Shane McCormack |
| Thomas Barr | 400mH | Ferrybank AC | Hayley Harrison |
| Colin Doyle | 4x100m Relay | Leevale AC | Alan Mahoney |
| Joseph Ojewumi | 4x100m Relay | Tallaght AC | Daniel Kilgallon |
| Leon Reid | 4x100m Relay | Menapians AC | James Hillier |
| Mark Smyth | 4x100m Relay | Raheny Shamrock AC | Kay Bannon |
| Roisin Harrison | 4x400m Relay | Emerald AC | Eoghan MacNamara |
| Sharlene Mawdsley | 400m & 4x400m Relay | Newport AC | Gary Ryan |
| Cliodhna Manning | 4x400m Relay | Kilkenny City Harriers AC | Peter Lyons |
| Roisin Flanagan | 5000m | Finn Valley AC | Damon Martin |
| Darragh McElhinney | 5000m | UCD AC | Emmett Dunleavy |
| Brian Fay | 5000m | Raheny Shamrock AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Mark English | 800m | Finn Valley AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| John Fitzsimons | 800m | Kildare AC | Joe Ryan |
| Louise Shanahan | 800m | Leevale AC | Phil O’Dell & Ray Shanahan |
| Ciara Mageean | 800m & 1500m | City of Lisburn AC | Helen Clitheroe |
| Kate O'Connor | Heptathlon | Dundalk St. Gerards AC | Michael O'Connor |
| *Fionnuala McCormack | Marathon | Kilcoole AC | Alan McCormack |
| *Aoife Cooke | Marathon | Eagle AC | Alan Storey |
| *Ann Marie McGlynn | Marathon | Letterkenny AC | Emmett Dunleavy |
| *Hugh Armstrong | Marathon | Ballina AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Paul Costelloe | Non-travelling reserve - 4x100m Relay | Emerald AC | Liam O'Hora |
| Kelly McGrory | Non-travelling reserve - 4x400m Relay | Tir Chonall AC | Drew & Hayley Harrison |
| Eric Favors | Shot Put | Raheny Shamrock AC | Dane Miller |
Hugh Armstrong, Fionnuala McCormack, Ann Marie McGlynn, Aoife Cooke, Brendan Boyce all previously selected. Kevin Seaward was also previously selected in the Marathon but has now withdrawn.
David Kenny and Alex Wright withdrawn (11.08.2022).
Notes:
The European Athletics Championships (15th – 21st Aug) will be held in Germany for the fourth time and for the second time in Munich after 2002. The first European Athletics Championships took place in 1934 - hence the continental championships have been around much longer than the World Championships, which debuted in 1983. The 2012 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, introduced a two-year rhythm.
For more information visit: https://www.munich2022.com/en/athletics
This Selection Announcement was posted at 15:55 on Wednesday August 3rd.