Ireland will send one of its strongest and most recognisable athletics teams to next month’s European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, with Kate O’Connor, Mark English and Rhasidat Adeleke leading a formidable initial selection.

The Championships take place from August 10th to 16th, with Athletics Ireland expecting its final team to number approximately 50 athletes.

The initial selection confirms athletes who have achieved automatic ‘A’ standards. Further athletes who have met Athletics Ireland’s ‘B’ standard and qualified through the rankings will be added once European Athletics publishes its final list on July 30th.

At least 20 Irish athletes have already achieved ‘A’ standards, reflecting a depth that would have been difficult to imagine a decade ago.

Ireland is no longer travelling to major championships with hopes resting on one or two individuals. There are now genuine medal and final prospects across combined events, sprinting, middle-distance running, relays and field events.

O’Connor travels as one of the leading names in international combined events. The Dundalk St Gerard’s athlete won World Championship silver in the heptathlon in Tokyo in 2025, setting a national record of 6,714 points.

She followed that by winning pentathlon bronze at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Toruń, again setting a national record.

English arrives in Birmingham in the form of his career and with the fastest 800 metres time recorded by a European athlete this year.

His 1:42.97 performance at the London Diamond League cut four-tenths of a second from his personal best and places him firmly among the contenders for what would be a third European Championship medal.

He will be joined in the men’s 800 metres by Cian McPhillips, who finished fourth at last year’s World Championships in a national record of 1:42.15.

Adeleke secured her place in the women’s 200 metres by running a championship record of 22.80 seconds at the 123.ie National Senior Track and Field Championships, despite a stiff headwind. She will also form part of the women’s 4×400 metres relay squad.

National record-holder Israel Olatunde and Bori Akinola have been selected for the men’s 100 metres, while Sean Aigboboh will contest the 200 metres after breaking the Irish record with a time of 20.27 earlier this year.

Lauren Roy is selected in the women’s 200 metres and provisionally in the 100 metres, while Ciara Neville is in contention for an individual place and the women’s 4×100 metres relay.

Sharlene Mawdsley has been selected in the women’s 400 metres and relay, subject to fitness after pulling up at the National Championships.

Sarah Lavin will compete in the women’s 100 metres hurdles after winning her 20th national senior title.

Ireland also has significant strength in the middle-distance events.

Andrew Coscoran will contest the men’s 1500 metres, while European indoor champion Sarah Healy is set to double up in the women’s 1500 metres and 5000 metres.

Sophie O’Sullivan joins Healy in the 1500 metres, with Darragh McElhinney and Nick Griggs assured of places in the men’s 5000 metres.

Five-time Olympian Fionnuala McCormack will run the women’s marathon, while David McGlynn, Ryan Creech and Paul O’Donnell make up the Irish men’s team.

World finalist Nicola Tuthill leads the field-event challenge in the women’s hammer, having thrown a personal best of 72.73 metres this summer.

Birmingham’s proximity should encourage strong travelling support, while the team’s mix of established stars and emerging athletes offers valuable exposure for the sport, its clubs and commercial partners.

“We are excited about the prospects for this cohort of athletes at what is essentially a local championship for athletes and supporters,” said Athletics Ireland High-Performance Director Paul McNamara.

“The team includes many seasoned performers who have delivered medals at the highest level, and many others who are hungry to replicate that success.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Image Credit: Athletics Ireland

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