The Irish athletics team returned to Dublin yesterday afternoon following their record-breaking exploits in Munich at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.

The medals won by Mark English and Ciara Mageean marked two of the many high points this week, adding to the record-breaking performances of Israel Olatunde in the 100m, Rhasidat Adeleke in the 400m, and the 4x400m team of Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley in the relay final.

In all, this Irish team secured a record-breaking eleven top-8 finishes, with a further 3 top 10 placings also secured across the course of the week. Ireland’s previous best total of top-8 placings at a European Championships was 6, which was achieved in 1998 and 2002.

“This has been growing for championship after championship,” said Athletics Ireland Director of High Performance, Paul McNamara.

“We had a World Championships in Eugene earlier this year, time zones and lack of television coverage meant it didn’t get the same shop window but, if you look at the numbers, there was significant improvement on previous championships in Doha and London.”

“Prior to that, you look at other key events. We hosted the European Cross-Country Championships at the Sport Ireland Campus in December last. We finished third in the points table behind Great Britain and France – the superpowers of European Athletics.”

“It was the most successful Championships we’ve ever had – with incremental improvement over the last number of events. Team management were not surprised at all by the success this week. We were expecting a really comprehensive result from the entire team. We had 25 athletes with an A standard – the toughest A standard ever imposed by European Athletics.”

“Thirty individual athletes had the B standard which we imposed, the toughest standard that we’ve ever had. There is comprehensive, systemic progress throughout the sport at the elite level.”

“We are very proud of the excellence shown by all our team in Munich,” added Athletics Ireland CEO Hamish Adams.

“These results are genuinely special and illustrate the rising standards being delivered across all areas of our sport. We have a mission to consistently deliver finalists and medals at the international level and we have a clear strategy to achieve this mission.”

“This Championship reflects the excellence that Paul McNamara our High Performance Director and his team are delivering together with all our coaches, members, officials, and staff. Our team mix of youth and experienced athletes has contributed to the fearless racing we have witnessed throughout this past week.”

Munich 2022 Medal Summary:
Silver Ciara Mageean 1500m (Time – 4.02.56)
Bronze Mark English 800m (Time – 1:45.19)

Irish National Record Summary (Broken in Munich):
Israel Olatunde 100m (Time 10.17)
Rhasidat Adeleke 400m (Time 50.53)
Women’s 4x400m Relay – Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley (Time – 3.26.06)

Munich 2022 Top 8 Summary:
Fionnuala McCormack – Marathon – 7th
Women’s Marathon Team – 5th
Israel Olatunde – 100m – 6th
Rhasidat Adeleke – 400m – 5th
Women’s 4x400m Team – 6th
Brian Fay – 5000m – 8th
Ciara Mageean – 1500m – 2nd
Louise Shanahan – 800m – 8th
Mark English 800m – 3rd
Efrem Gidey – 10000m – 6th
Sarah Lavin 100mH – 5th