Irish athletics fans were treated to an unforgettable night as three medals were secured in just 30 minutes at the European Indoor Championships 2025 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

Sarah Healy, Kate O’Connor, and Mark English all made the podium in a golden burst of success that signals a new era for Ireland’s track and field stars ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

Sarah Healy Strikes Gold in 1500m Final

Rising middle-distance star Sarah Healy stormed to gold in the 1500 metres, delivering a composed and commanding performance. Her final lap surge left her rivals trailing, and she crossed the line to become European Indoor Champion.

“It was amazing… the best part is that my parents are here because they have seen me so sad so many times,” Healy said, her voice cracking with emotion after the biggest win of her career.

Sarah Healy #Apeldoorn2025 #IRISHATHLETICS #teamireland pic.twitter.com/Kj2y7WXBZ0

— Ger McCarthy (@germccarthy74) March 9, 2025

Healy’s victory confirms her status as one of Europe’s most promising athletes heading into the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, scheduled for 13–21 September.

Kate O’Connor Battles to Pentathlon Bronze

In a thrilling finale to the women’s pentathlon, Kate O’Connor threw caution to the wind in the final 800m race—clocking a personal best to clinch bronze.

“We had a plan, but halfway through the race I said ‘I’m going to run as fast as I flippin’ can’,” O’Connor laughed, after her gutsy run paid off.

"We had a plan, but halfway through the race I said 'I'm going to run as fast as I flippin' can' – Kate O'Connor tore up the script midway through the 800m race to secure bronze at the European Indoors.
Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer#Apeldoorn2025 #IrishAthletics #rtesport pic.twitter.com/lLcBzFq9YJ

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 9, 2025

Kate O'Connor ran an aggressive final event in the pentathlon and it paid dividends as she ran an 800m personal best to secure a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships.

Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer#Apeldoorn2025 #IrishAthletics #rtesport pic.twitter.com/xs4xGOOLJu

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 9, 2025

Her all-round consistency, mental strength, and aggressive approach in the final event highlight her as a serious contender for global success in 2025.

Mark English Adds Another Medal in 800m

Veteran middle-distance runner Mark English once again showed his class, digging deep in a tactical men’s 800m final to secure bronze—his latest in a glittering European career.

Battling all the way to the finish line, English’s experience shone through as he added another medal to Ireland’s growing haul on the European stage.

Mark English is THE championship performer

Sportsfile pic.twitter.com/PN3IIF4kVb

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 9, 2025

Eyes Now on Tokyo for World Championships

This remarkable half-hour at the European Indoors marks one of the most successful spells in Irish athletics history. With one gold and two bronze medals, Team Ireland now carries massive momentum into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, set for 13–21 September 2025.

It’s a promising sign that Ireland could be on the verge of something special this autumn on the world stage.

For the latest on Ireland’s road to Tokyo, daily athletics news, and exclusive interviews with Irish stars, follow our coverage every day.

The post Video – Irish Athletics Shines with Three European Medals in 30 Minutes at European Indoors appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Irish Olympians who competed at the Tokyo Olympics such as Thomas Barr (400mH), Sarah Lavin (100mH), Louise Shanahan (800m), Sarah Healy (UCD AC), Michelle Finn (3000mSC), Marcus Lawler (200m & 400m), Mark English (800m), David Kenny (10,000mWalk), Phil Healy (400m), Sophie Becker (400m), Christopher O’Donnell (400m) and Fionnuala McCormack (5000m) will all compete this weekend.

From team mates to rivals

The women’s 400m will see Ireland’s fastest women take to the start line. Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), and Róisín Harrison (Emerald AC) move from Irish 4x400m teammates to rivals through the heats on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s final at 7:45pm. Healy and Becker will be neck and neck after Healy clocked a season best of 51.82 seconds just 0.01 seconds faster than Becker’s recent PB.

2022 World Indoor Championship Finalist and Olympian Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) is set to produce another incredible performance in the 100m Hurdles this afternoon at 3pm, after setting a new PB of 12.93 seconds while competing in Spain this past week.

Olympian Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) is set to lead the men’s 200m competition but will have a battle on his hands with Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) and Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) also taking to the start line at 4.10pm on Saturday.

In the middle-distance finals, Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) and Luke McCann (UCD AC) will compete in the 1500m.

Competitive Men’s 5,000 title

Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC), Hiko Haso Tonosa (DSD AC), Paul O’Donnell (DSD AC), Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers), Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC), Scott Fagan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) and Emmet Jennings (DSD AC) will all be in contention for the Men’s 5,000m final championship title.

Olympian Sarah Healy (UCD AC) in the 1500m will be an event not to miss. Having secured her first 1500m senior title last year, she has since broken Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1991 Irish U23 record this season in 4:02.86 (4^th all time).

There will be a team aspect in the field events for the 150th edition of the championships, with the best performance of the top 2 club athletes being added together. The overall team winners will be presented with a special medal.

Action live on Youtube and RTÉ

Saturday’s action begins at 1.30pm, while competition starts on Sunday at 1pm.

Both days of competition will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel.

RTÉ will be covering the Championships on Radio 1 throughout both days and RTÉ 1 Live television coverage from 6.05pm-8.30pm on Sunday.

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The UCD AC athlete set a new time of 4:02.86 after an incredible performance in the Czech Republic.

Healy’s time takes three seconds of the previous record set by Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan who set the record in 1991.

The 21-year-old Healy now moves to fourth on the Irish all-time list behind O’Sullivan, Ciara Mageean and Geraldine Hendricken.

So far this season Healy has broken three U23 Distance Records. Earlier this year during her impressive indoor season Healy set new 1500m (4:06.94) and 3,000m (8:53.67) records.

The post Sarah Healy breaks Sonia O’Sullivan’s U23 National 1500m record 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.

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