TEAM IRELAND READY FOR WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ireland’s top athletics stars will join over 2,000 athletes from 200 countries at the World Athletics Championships which take place in the Hungarian capital of Budapest from 19-27 August.

The Irish squad, which is the largest ever selected for a World Athletics Championships, will be spearheaded by European Championship medal winners Ciara Mageean (1500m) and Mark English (800m), while Sarah Lavin (100mh) and Rhasidat Adeleke (400m & relay) will also look to continue their outstanding seasons.

Irish record holders Andrew Coscoran (1500m) and Brian Fay (5000m) will be targeting World final appearances, while recent European medallists Sophie O’Sullivan (1500m), Sarah Healy (1500m), and Nick Griggs (1500m) will all look to gain valuable senior championship experience.

In all, 15 of the 24 Irish athletes selected for Budapest 2023 have set new personal bests in their respective events this year, making the prospect of surpassing last year’s total of nine ‘top-24 placings’ at the World Championships in Oregon very much a possibility.

• Full Championship Schedule (Team Ireland): Here
• Championships Timetable & Results: Here
• Entries by season’s best Here
• Further event information: Here

The opening day of competition is set to be a busy one for Team Ireland with David Kenny (Farranfore Main Valley) leading out the Irish charge in the 20km walk from 7.50am on Saturday (Irish time). The 2021 European U23 silver medallist has already gained experience at Olympic and World level and looks set to build on last year’s 39th place finish in Oregon following his season’s best of 1:24:31 over the 20km distance in May.

Irish throws will also be represented in Budapest with Irish shot put record-holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock) primed to bring his consistent run of form into his second World Championships early on Saturday morning. The Raheny athlete is set to take his place in the qualifying round from 9.30am where he can be expected to challenge his 20.66NR.

Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerards AC) gets her busy few days up and running in the first of her four heptathlon events on Saturday at 9.35am (100m hurdles). O’Connor comes into his week ranked 14th on her season’s best and is sure to have eyes on outperforming that rank on the back of her superb silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year. The high jump, shot put, and 200m also await the Irish record holder on the opening day of competition.

The mixed 4x400m relay team has been one of the leading lights at major championships in recent years, securing finals at both the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships in Oregon. The team which includes Roisin Harrison, Callum Baird, Christopher O'Donnell, Sophie Becker, Jack Raftery, and Sharlene Mawdsley will go in search of another global final in round one qualifying from 10.05am.

Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC) will lead the trio of Irish athletes in the 1500m with the City of Lisburn AC star arriving in Budapest full of confidence having smashed Sonia O’Sullivan’s long standing national mile record last month with an incredible 4.14.58.

Mageean will be joined in the 1500m by European U23 medallists Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) and Sarah Healy (UCD AC) who will look to take the next step in their development among world class opposition.

Saturday’s evening session will see Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC), Luke McCann (UCD AC), and Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) take their places in round 1 of a stacked looking men’s 1500m.

Coscoran broke his own Irish 1500m record with a sensational performance at the Silesia Diamond League meeting earlier this season, finishing fourth in a world class field in 3.30.42. The Balbriggan athlete will have sights firmly set on making the 1500m final set for Wednesday evening.

Luke McCann boasts a personal best of 3:34.76 from indoors and is sure to have another big outdoor performance on the horizon. 18-year-old Nick Griggs, fresh from his superb silver at the European U20 championships, will be looking to gain valuable senior championship experience as he looks to sign off another outstanding season.

Where to watch

For the first time ever, Virgin Media will broadcast live coverage of the World Athletics Championships, returning the event to Irish terrestrial television for the first time in decades. The Championships, which start on 19th August, will see Virgin Media 2 present live coverage across all nine days.

Day 1

Morning – Saturday August 19th – Irish Time (Local Time)

• David Kenny – Men’s 20km Race Walk – Final – 07:50 (08:50)
• Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification – 09:30 (10:30)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 100m Hurdles – Heats – 09:35 (10:35)
• Mixed 4x400m Relay – Round One – 10:05 (11:05)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon High Jump – 10:45 (11:45)
• Ciara Mageean – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15 (13:15)
• Sarah Healy – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15 (13:15)
• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Round One – 12:15 (13:15)

Evening – Saturday August 19th

• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 18:02 (19:02)
• Luke McCann – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 18:02 (19:02)
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 1500m – Round One – 18:02 (19:02)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon Shot Put – 18:05 (19:05)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Heptathlon 200m – Heats – 19:30 (20:30)
• Men’s Shot Put – Final – 19:35 (20:35)
• Mixed 4x400m Relay – Final – 20:47 (21:47)