Athletics Eire has chosen an thrilling group for the European Athletics U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, from 18-21 July 2024.
Eire has loved medal success at earlier editions of the U18 Championships, most lately with Fintan Dewhirst taking silver within the 400m hurdles again in 2022. Different medallists have included Gina Akpe Moses (100m silver, 2016), Molly Scott (100mh bronze, 2016), Rhasidat Adeleke (200m gold, 2018), Sophie O’Sullivan (800m silver, 2018), and Sarah Healy (1500m gold and 800m gold, 2018).
This yr’s group has power in depth proper throughout a variety of observe and discipline occasions with 15-year-old Conor Penny (Craughwell AC) and 16-year-old Thomas Williams (Shercock AC) heading to those championships as the highest ranked athletes of their respective excessive leap (Penny) and hammer throw (Willaims) occasions.
There isn’t a scarcity of expertise chosen for the observe occasions with Joe Burke (Templemore) within the 200m and Conor Kelly (Derry Observe) within the 400m trying thrilling.
Saoirse Fitzgerald of Lucan Harriers continues to impress and can profit from extra championship expertise within the 800m, whereas Jennifer O’Leary (Nenagh Olympic) will be part of Emily Bolton (Donore Harriers) in a robust Irish illustration within the 1500m. Clodagh Gill (Moy Valley) has continued to impress this season and shall be one other trying to chase down a high 10 within the 3000m.
Noah Harris (Parnell AC) has carried out fantastically this season, incomes him choice within the 3000m and 2000m steeplechase, whereas Ethan Dewhirst (TÃr Chonaill) will look to channel recollections of brother Fintan’s success within the 400m hurdles when he takes to the observe in Banska Bystrica.
Eire has arguably by no means despatched a stronger walks choice to a European Championships with Séamus Clarke (Moy Valley) and Matthew Newell (Tuam AC) each ranked inside the highest six within the 5k race stroll. Newall’s clubmate Savanagh O’Callaghan (Tuam) will paved the way for Eire within the ladies’s 5k race stroll, with the 16-year-old certain to revel on the large stage as she appears to achieve extra top-level racing expertise following her prestigious win within the US earlier this season.
There’s additionally a robust illustration within the ladies’s excessive leap with the in-form Tara O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s) and Siún Quinn (Brothers Pearse) set to take their respective locations with lifelike hopes of high 12 finishes.
Caoimhe Gallen (Lifford Strabane) shall be eying a high 10 end within the hammer, whereas Ratoath’s multi-event star Enya Silkena shall be one other on the lookout for a daring exhibiting within the heptathlon and javelin (500g) competitions. European Youth Olympics bronze medallist Cian Crampton (Edenderry AC) can have sights on a high 10 end within the discus.
