An exciting Irish team of over 35 athletes have begun to depart for the European Athletics Championships which take in Munich from August 15th – 21st.
The European Athletics Championships will see 1,540 athletes from 47 nations battle it out in 50 medal events over the 7-day schedule, with a strong Irish representation on each day.
Previous European championship medal winners Thomas Barr (400mH), Ciara Mageean (800m/1500m), and Mark English (800m) will spearhead the Irish contingent.
Mageean will arrive in Munich buoyed by arguably the race of her career last week in claiming a 1500m silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
The City of Lisburn athlete will renew rivalry with Scotland’s Laura Muir this week in the 1500m, while also having eyes on competing in a stacked women’s 800m which includes world and Olympic silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson (GBR).
Barr will look to channel memories of his ‘Wunderbarr’ performance in 2018 which saw him claim a European bronze medal on German soil.
The Ferrybank star has banked a valuable block of training since the World Championships in Oregon last month and will fear no one should he make it to yet another major final. Norway’s 400m hurdling supremo Kartson Warlhom is sure to be sharper too following his Oregon exploits and will be the favourite to claim gold.
Mark English comes into this week ranked 8th in the men’s 800m and will have sights firmly set on taking to the start line in the medal decider. English has looked at his brilliant best this season and his recent top 10 finish at the World Championships will see him take to Munich full of confidence come the heats on Thursday morning.
Several other Irish athletes will be looking to make it to medal deciders this week including Rhasidat Adeleke in the 400m (ranked 6th), Chris O’Donnell 400m (ranked 5th), Sarah Healy 1500m (ranked 5th), Louise Shanahan 800m (ranked 6th), and world indoor finalist Sarah Lavin 100mH (ranked 9th).
Phil Healy has targeted these championships and will look to progress through the 400m heats on day 1 alongside teammates Rhasidat Adeleke and Sharlene Mawdsley, with Sophie Becker now set to focus attentions on the 4x400m relay (team ranked 4th). The quartet will form part of a strong looking women’s 4x400m team which also includes Cliodhna Manning, and Roisin Harrison (heats on Friday 19th).
This year’s European team also includes an excellent blend of developing athletes including recent Commonwealth Games silver medallist Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC) who will have another busy week in the women’s heptathlon which gets underway with the 100mH on Wednesday morning.
