The 2023 European Games bronze medallist showed all her class to take her 8th outdoor 100m hurdles title in a time of 13.13 seconds.

Lavin was followed across the line by Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC) in 14.14, and Lilly-Ann O’Hora (Dooneen AC) who took bronze in 14.29.

Titles for Ezeonu and Smyth

The men’s 110m hurdles saw a new name make his mark on the event with James Ezeonu (Leevale AC) coming out on top in a stride for stride finish with Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick-on—Shannon AC). The Leevale athlete made a winning dip for the line to cross in 14.28 ahead of O’Donnell in 14.29.

Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) retained his 200m title in 20.87 performance. The Irish indoor 200m record holder stretched away from Colin Doyle (Leevale) who backed up his recent European U23 performances to claim silver in 21.17. Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers AC) picked up the bronze in 21.51.

Wins for Bergin, Finn and Tuthill

Moyne AC’s Katie Bergin continued her excellent season in the women’s final, following up her recent U23 gold in the 100m to claim the senior 200m crown in 24.60. Bergin was chased home by Laura Nally (Galway City Harriers AC) 25.18 and Janine Boyle (Finn Valley AC) 25.21.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase saw Michelle Finn secure her 9^th national steeplechase title in a solo run. The Leevale athlete won in 10.00.14.

The women’s hammer saw UCD’s Nicola Tuthill produce another brilliant performance, claiming gold with a best throw of 67.67m which was just 18 centimetres off her own Irish U23 record. Margaret Hayden (Tallaght AC) 61.63m and Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) 56.05m joined Tuthill on today’s podium.

More winners

Seán Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) won the men’s hammer throw with a best of 64.49m.

National record holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock, regained the shot put title he won in 2019 in style, posting a championship record of 19.19m.

Saragh Buggy’s 8^th straight outdoor triple jump title continued a remarkable year-on-year consistency of performance from the St Abban’s athlete, adding to her medal haul with her best and final jump of 13.03m.

In the women’s high jump, Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley claimed the gold medal with a best clearance of 1.80m. David Cussen (Old Abbey AC) won the men’s title with a jump of 2.15m.

The 4x100m relays saw Dundrum South Dublin AC claim gold in the women’s race (50.65), with Tallaght AC successful in the men’s in a time of 41.81.

The post 13th National title for Sarah Lavin appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

After incredible performances in the heats and the semi-finals, the Donegal man had the performance of his career in the final. He cleared each hurdle with masterful technique and skill to cross the line and claim a silver medal. 

This is the sole medal secured by Ireland at this year’s Championships.

As well as winning a silver medal, Dewhirst secured a PB time of 51.65 seconds.

The post Silver medal for Fintan Dewhirst at European U18 Championships appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The event was set to take place in 2020 but was delayed due to the ongoing global pandemic.

The SPAR European Cross Country Championships is now a fully ticketed event. Tickets are available for purchase via the Fingal-Dublin 2021.ie website.

Adult tickets will cost €8 (excluding processing fee), while tickets for children under the age of 16 are free. Please note, children under 16 must have a ticket to enter.

All tickets must be purchased in advance of the event. There will be no tickets available for purchase at the venue on the day of the Championships.

For all of the most up-to-date information on the SPAR European Cross Country Championships 2021, log onto www.fingal-dublin2021.ie or follow Athletics Ireland on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Ireland will be hoping to have a first winner in either the men’s or women’s race since Fionnoula Britton achieved her second in a row in 2012.

She was the first Irish runner and the second Irish woman to win the race after Catherine McKiernan’s victory in the inaugural championships in 1994.

No Irish man has ever won the senior men’s race of the European Cross Country Championships before.

However, the country currently sit seventh on the medal table when the mixed relay is factored in with nine medals to their name – four golds, two silvers and three bronzes.

The post Tickets on sale for European Cross Country Championships in Ireland appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Reid was in a heat with Canadian speedster and Men’s 100m bronze medalist Andre De Grasse as well as Team USA’s Kenneth Bednarek and Eswatini native Sibusiso Matsenjwa, who got a second chance in the heats after a false start.

The Team Ireland athlete crossed the line in a time of 20.54 – just outside of the season-best he set in the heats on Tuesday morning.

Speaking to RTÉ after the race, Reid spoke of his disappointment at not being able to reach the final.

“It wasn’t enough,” the English-born Irish sprinter said. “I felt good but, I don’t know, that must be where I am right now.”

His almost-identical time to his run in the final heat was not enough to qualify for a place in the Men’s 200m final.

De Grasse on the heat with a time of 19.73 with Bednarek crossing the line in second after 19.83 seconds.

Jereem Richards rounded out the top three in the heat with a time of 20.10 – almost half a second faster than Reid.

The Menapians athlete backed up the season-best that he had set earlier on Tuesday but lamented that he wanted to go faster.

“I just wanted to go a little bit quicker, even if it was 20.4, it’s quite frustrating to be honest.”

He started the race strong once again but fell away after the bend in a race where the cream rose to the top.

“I didn’t have that kick and rhythm that I usually have [off the bend], so I just couldn’t turn over and go again.”

Reid will return home following his exit from the only event he had qualified and he will now focus on what lies ahead and the next Olympics, Paris 2024.

The post Team Ireland Sprinter Leon Reid Bows Out At Semi-Finals appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Reid came fifth in heat seven but squeezed through to the next stage of the event with a season-best time of 20.53.

The 27-year-old beat his previous season-best by 0.26 with a strong run to ensure that his Olympics does not end after one race.

His 20.79 run to take home gold at the National Championships in June was beaten soundly at the Olympic Stadium.

The Menapians Athletics Club member beat out Ukraine’s Serhiy Smelyk by the fine margins after the pair finished their heats with the exact same recorded time.

A strong run from start to finish with an exceptional final burst sealed the result for Reid in what was the fastest heat out of all seven scheduled.

Fellow Team Ireland athlete Marcus Lawler was also in action on Tuesday morning, competing in the same event as Reid.

Lawler ran in the heat before Reid and finished the 200 metres in a time of 20.73 but it was not enough to progress after he crossed the line outside of the automatic qualification spots in sixth.

However, the 26-year-old ran a new season-best, beating the previous time of 20.99 that he set when he took bronze in the Men’s 200M at the National Championships, two places behind Reid.

The Clonliffe Harries athlete will return home after just one race but will have a new best time this season to bring home with him.

The athlete’s focus will now turn to Paris 2024.

The Men’s 200M semi-finals will take place on Monday afternoon with the first of three starting at 12:50.

Leon Reid will compete in the third semi-final which is scheduled to begin at 13:05.

To see the list of remaining Irish athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, click here.

The post Team Ireland Star Leon Reid Progresses To Semis With Season Best appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The pair experienced some tough competition and were unable to keep up with the leading packs.

Ciara Mageean finished tenth in her race and went across the finish line in the first heat with a time of 4:07.29.

Sarah Healy rounded off her Olympics with an 11th-placed finish courtesy of a time of 4:09.78 in the final heat.

Mageean started her heat strongly but faded away as the race went on and she failed to keep up with her fellow competitors on the last lap.

The 2016 European Championship bronze medalist had a problem that hindered her performance in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

Ciara Mageean tore her calf 8 days ago in her final hard track session – didn't run most of last week and began jogging again only on Saturday.

Tried her best to get to the line, tried her best in the race itself. Brutal timing for her.
@sportsfile#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Vdh1hwoLNK

— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) August 2, 2021

The UCD athlete tore her calf eight days previous to the race and did not run for most of the last week as a result, only returning to jogging on Saturday.

The 29-year-old ran a much more impressive 4:02.48 at the Herculis in Monaco at the beginning of July and that time will stand as an example of what could have been.

Sarah Healy crossed the line two seconds slower than Mageean did in heat three of the Women’s 1500m.

Healy started well like her Team Ireland counterpart but fell away much earlier as the quickest heat proved to be too quick for the Olympian.

The 20-year-old was out of contention before the final lap and missed out on making a semi-final in her first Olympic games.

The Team Ireland athlete put her disappointing Olympic debut down to her nerves and race tactics.

The athlete, who also runs for UCD, noted that she had never felt as nervous as she did for her heat and felt that it may have played a part.

The pair will head home after failing to qualify for the semi-finals but they will have high hopes for Paris 2024 in three years.

To find out who the other Irish athletes competing on Monday, August 2nd are, click here.

The post Team Ireland Athletes Mageean and Healy Fail To Reach 1500m Semis appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

There was disappointment for boxer, Kurt Walker, who lost out in his quarter-final bout with USA’s Duke Ragan by the finest of margins, a 3-2 split decision after a pulsating contest.

Regan took the better of the opening round, dictating the pace throughout, but Walker regrouped well in the break and came back strong in the second to level proceedings going into the final round. An extremely closely-contested final round saw the two boxers evenly matched throughout, but Regan just pipped it in the end on a 3-2 split decision.

Bronze medal for Walsh

Walker’s boxing team mate Aidan Walsh withdrew from his semi-final of the Men’s Welterweight competition due to ankle injury sustained during his quarter-final bout.

He will still take home his bronze medal which he won in the quarter-final bout, becoming the sixteenth boxer to bring home a medal from the Olympic Games. The tally of Olympic boxing medals now stands at 17, more than 50% of the overall medals won by Team Ireland at Olympic Games.

Athletics

In athletics, there were fantastic performances from Eilish Flanagan and Michelle Finn in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase heats, with Flanagan producing the run of a lifetime to shave an incredible six seconds off her Personal Best time, while Finn produced her fastest time at a major championships.

Flanagan produced the performance of a lifetime to run 9.34.86 to finish 12^th in her heat.

Speaking after her new lifetime best, Flanagan said:

“It really excites me for that to be my first performance on the world stage. It makes me believe a bit more that I belong there, so I’m looking forward to the next opportunity on a stage like that.”

Finn, going in the fastest of the heats, had to deal with a strung-out field, but put in an impressive last 800m to record her fastest time at a major championships – 9:36.

Thomas Barr ran the second fastest time of his career in the Semi-Finals of the Men’s 400m Hurdle, but failed to qualify for the final.

The post Irish team boxing and athletics news from Tokyo appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

His time of 48.26 seconds placed the Waterford athlete in 9th place overall. Unfortunately, he failed to qualify for the final at this his second Olympic Games.

Despite a strong run from Barr, it was always set to be a huge challenge in a high calibre semi-final. The race included the world record holder (Karsten Warholm), the third-fastest man in history (Rai Benjamin), and the man who beat him to bronze in Rio (Yasmani Copello).

With just two automatic places available, Warholm and Benjamin were always favoured, being the only sub-47 second men in the field, proving their class from gun to tape.

Barr started much more aggressively than in his heat, aware of the challengers in the lanes either side of him and tried hard to hang on to those fast starters. He was very well positioned at the halfway mark, which was encouraging for the notoriously fast finisher, but hitting hurdle seven stripped the Irish hurdler of his momentum.

A courageous fight back over the final 120m saw him post a time only bettered by his fourth-place performance in Rio, and he finished 9^th overall in these Games –  just one spot away from a second consecutive final.

Barr disappointed despite fast time

A disappointed Barr spoke of the effect that the clipped hurdle had on his race, stating:

“I was coming over the hurdle smooth, much faster than I usually do over hurdle seven, but I didn’t bring my trail leg through as quickly as I’m used to, and I just clipped it. It was an inch, and yeah, it completely knocked my momentum. I didn’t feel lactic in my legs, so I was able to recover, but it probably did cost me a place in the final.

“I went into that in PB [Personal Best] shape,” he added. “It’s such a shame, because that’s the second fastest time I’ve ever run, and it’d probably have been a 47-something.”

The post Thomas Barr runs second fastest time of his career in Tokyo appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

An impressive finish brought the Irishman up to fourth in heat three and granted him a time of 49.02, behind only Norway’s Karsten Warholm – the athlete expected to win the heat.

The top four spots granted athletes automatic qualification into the semi-finals with Barr among them and guaranteed a decent starting spot in the race.

The Rio Olympics fourth placer qualified 11th-fastest in the heats on what is seen as a quick track but his second-place finish is the one that matters as they grant starting positions based on the latter.

The Irishman’s time bodes well for him as he looks set to fall into the pattern of progression throughout each round at previous championships.

His times from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Berlin 2018 showcase increased speed after every race.

The 29-year-old began Rio 2016 with a time of 48.93 and shaved almost a second of it by the time he crossed the line in the final race to take fourth – he ran a personal best of 47.97.

Berlin 2018 also followed a similar pattern, with his semi-final time being identical to his time in Rio – 48.39.

Earlier, three other Team Ireland athletes took the track – Nadia Power, Louise Shanahan and Siofra Cleirigh-Butler all finished seventh in their heats in their respective events.

Power ran the Women’s 800m in heat two in a time of 2:03.04 with Shanahan getting over the line half a second slower in the succeeding heat.

Cleirigh-Butler was a second behind the pair after her run in heat four, crossing the line after 2:04.62.

All the athletes ran in very humid conditions at the new Olympic Stadium, built on the same site as the old 1964 Olympic Stadium.

The Men’s 400m Hurdles semi-finals will take place on Sunday, August 1st with the first of three starting at the later time of 1:05 pm.

The post Thomas Barr Into Semis As Team Ireland Start Track Events appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The announcement brings the total number of Team Ireland athletes competing across athletic events up to 25.

The number makes this year’s team Ireland’s second-biggest ever athletics team heading to the Games.

Athletics Performance Director and Team Manager for the Team Ireland Athletics Squad, Paul McNamara said: “The ‘end-game’ of the qualification period was excruciatingly difficult for many, but these athletes and their coaches expertly navigated the qualification system and have been rewarded with their place on the biggest stage.”

Today’s announcement includes athletes who both achieved qualification standards in their respective events, or who finished within their event’s Road To Tokyo rankings on the cut-off day last week.

The athletics events occur in the second week of the Games, running from Friday 30 July – Sunday 8 August, with the events taking place in both Sapporo Odori Park and the Olympic Stadium.

Thomas Barr will be heading to his second Olympics Games to compete in the Men’s 400m hurdles event.

The 28-year-old said: “I am very proud to be representing Ireland at my second Olympic Games. The men’s 400m hurdles is one of the most competitive events on the track at the moment and I can’t wait to line up and compete against the best on the biggest stage in the world.”

Barr was one of the athletes who had secured their qualification time in advance of the cut-off.

Others like 800m runner Mark English and 100m hurdler Sarah Lavin qualified late into the process, with English achieving qualification on the last day with a new national record in the event.

Team Ireland Full Athletics team named

2⃣5⃣ Athletes will compete across the athletics disciplines for #TeamIreland this summer in #Tokyo2020 #NothingInOurWay

Track & Field is one of the most anticipated events on the schedule, read more

https://t.co/F0XBZxzlhZ pic.twitter.com/uSPgKNtRbN

— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 8, 2021

Cork’s Phil Healy will be representing Team Ireland in three events – the most out of any Team Ireland athlete.

“It is a real honour for any athlete to be selected to represent their country at the Olympic Games,” Healy said.

“To achieve qualification in one event is a dream for any athlete as the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of any athletes career.

“I am thrilled to be selected for two individual events in addition to the mixed 4x400m relay.

“Every athlete has worked so hard to get to this point and it’s made all the more special to have such a large and strong athletics team heading to the Games.”

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Tricia Heberle, complimented the members of the Track & Field and 20km Walk team.

She described the athletes who qualified as a talented team who have been faced with a challenging season of competition.

She believes Team Ireland is bringing a strong group over to Tokyo.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do on the world’s biggest stage.”

To see the full list of Irish athletes for the Tokyo Games, click here.

Team Ireland Athletics Team

Individuals

Thomas Barr (400m Hurdles)

Síofra Cléirigh Büttner (800m)

Andrew Coscoran (1500m)

Mark English (800m)

Michelle Finn (3,000m Steeplechase)

Eilish Flanagan (3,000m Steeplechase)

Phil Healy (200m/400m/400m Relay)

Sarah Healy (1500m)

David Kenny (20K Walk)

Sarah Lavin (100H)

Marcus Lawler (200m)

Ciara Mageean (1500m)

Nadia Power (800m)

Leon Reid (200m)

Louise Shanahan (800m)

Mixed 4x400m Relay Team (Four athletes from the following six)

Cillin Greene

Chris O’Donnell

Phil Healy

Sophie Becker

Robert McDonnell

Cliodhna Manning

The post Team Ireland Announce Track & Field and 20km Walk Team appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.