Latest news with #ConorKelly
The Journal
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Ireland's new U20 gold medalist Conor Kelly to follow Rhasidat Adeleke's footsteps in Texas move
The 42 IRELAND'S LATEST RISING star in athletics, Conor Kelly, has confirmed he will follow in Rhasidat Adeleke's footsteps by attending the University of Texas. Kelly collected his 400m gold medal at the European U20 championships today, having stormed to victory in yesterday's race, clocking a new U20 national record of 45.83 seconds while he was at it. Speaking today to Athletics Ireland after stepping off the podium, Kelly said, 'I couldn't stop smiling, it was incredible. I was probably up a little later than I should've been. I woke up a little late, not much sleep…This is the last week before I go to Texas (for college) so I better get a good goodbye in.' Kelly raced alongside Adeleke in the mixed 4x400m at the world relay championships in May. Today marked the final day of the championships in Tampere, Finland, with Sean Cronin (1500m) and the Irish women's 4x100m relay team finishing eighth in their respective finals. Racing in a stacked, tactical 1500m final. Clonliffe Harriers clubman Cronin dug deep down the home straight to cross the line in 3:50.80. Advertisement 'I'm really proud of how I ran that race. I think I got as much out of it as I could have,' he told Athletics Ireland. 'I'm delighted with the progression I've made this season, I think I've really stepped up. I've not just trained harder; I've trained smarter and done all the little things right in between.' An hour earlier, the Women's 4x100m relay team of Fatima Amusan (Leevale AC), Molly Daly (Kilkenny City Harriers), Leila Colfer (St Laurence O'Toole AC) and Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) clocked a time of 45.17 seconds in finishing eighth in their relay final, which was faster than their heat time. Akpe-Moses – who was racing at these championships for the eighth time, having made the finals of both the 100m and 200m – reflected on her performance and that of the team with pride. 'It's been a long championship,' she said. 'We made it to the final, did what we could do, and we're satisfied.' After a long two days of competition, Enya Silkena (Ratoath AC) finished 17th in the Women's Heptathlon with 4693 points. Silkena was in action in the Long Jump (5.63m), Javelin Throw (39.48m) and 800m (2:30.19) today. Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley AC) was unable to finish the final of the Men's 10,000m Race Walk due to injury. Written by Gavin Cooney and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Rising star and U20 gold medalist Kelly to follow Adeleke's steps in going to University of Texas
IRELAND'S LATEST RISING star in athletics, Conor Kelly, has confirmed he will follow in Rhasidat Adeleke's footsteps by attending the University of Texas. Kelly collected his 400m gold medal at the European U20 championships today, having stormed to victory in yesterday's race, clocking a new U20 national record of 45.83 seconds while he was at it. Speaking today to Athletics Ireland after stepping off the podium, Kelly said, 'I couldn't stop smiling, it was incredible. I was probably up a little later than I should've been. I woke up a little late, not much sleep…This is the last week before I go to Texas (for college) so I better get a good goodbye in.' Advertisement Kelly raced alongside Adeleke in the mixed 4x400m at the world relay championships in May. Today marked the final day of the championships in Tampere, Finland, with Sean Cronin (1500m) and the Irish women's 4x100m relay team finishing eighth in their respective finals. Racing in a stacked, tactical 1500m final. Clonliffe Harriers clubman Cronin dug deep down the home straight to cross the line in 3:50.80. 'I'm really proud of how I ran that race. I think I got as much out of it as I could have,' he told Athletics Ireland. 'I'm delighted with the progression I've made this season, I think I've really stepped up. I've not just trained harder; I've trained smarter and done all the little things right in between.' An hour earlier, the Women's 4x100m relay team of Fatima Amusan (Leevale AC), Molly Daly (Kilkenny City Harriers), Leila Colfer (St Laurence O'Toole AC) and Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) clocked a time of 45.17 seconds in finishing eighth in their relay final, which was faster than their heat time. Akpe-Moses – who was racing at these championships for the eighth time, having made the finals of both the 100m and 200m – reflected on her performance and that of the team with pride. 'It's been a long championship,' she said. 'We made it to the final, did what we could do, and we're satisfied.' After a long two days of competition, Enya Silkena (Ratoath AC) finished 17th in the Women's Heptathlon with 4693 points. Silkena was in action in the Long Jump (5.63m), Javelin Throw (39.48m) and 800m (2:30.19) today. Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley AC) was unable to finish the final of the Men's 10,000m Race Walk due to injury.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Conor Kelly follows Rhasidat Adeleke's path as he commits to University of Texas
The first question which follows any spectacular underage success such as Conor Kelly has just achieved is inevitable: so what happens next? Just a month after turning 18, Kelly utterly dominated the 400 metres final at the European Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland on Saturday. His winning time of 45.83 seconds have him a margin of victory of well over half a second and improved his own Irish under-20 record. It was the only medal won by Ireland over the four-day championships, but historically one of the very best. Kelly won't be resting his recent laurels for long. Next week, he's heading to Austin, committing his immediate future to the University of Texas, where Rhasidat Adeleke also progressed her considerable talent after winning a European Under-20 sprint double in 2021. READ MORE For an athlete such as Kelly, who clearly relishes the competition, that also offers him to the chance to develop against the best teenagers in the world, most of whom are in US colleges. 'I couldn't stop smiling, it was special,' Kelly said of his medal presentation on Sunday, also referencing the bronze medal he won in the European Under-18 event last year. 'Last year's bronze was great, but it hurt me. There's such a huge amount of work you have to put into this: food, going to bed early. There's so much day-to-day work at 100 per cent. My coaches, dietitian, physio and all the people around me – it's a big team. This feels amazing. 'I just want to enjoy this achievement. It's taken a lot of work and I'm so proud. It's my last week, before I'm off to Texas, and that's big. We can seriously get to work now.' Kelly becomes only the ninth Irish athlete to win a European Under-20 gold, coming 50 years after John Treacy claimed Ireland's first medal at this level, bronze in the 5,000m in Athens in 1975. Plenty of other successful names have followed in his footsteps, including Mark Carroll, Ciara Mageean, Sarah Lavin, Sarah Healy, Kate O'Connor and Adeleke. Born in London to Irish parents, his mother Mary-Jo from Derry, his Lisburn-born father Steve growing up in Dublin, Kelly is coached by Paul Miller at Hercules Wimbledon AC in London, while representing Finn Valley AC here. There were other encouraging performances in Tampere, Precious Akpe-Moses making the 100m and 200m final, before anchoring the women's 4x100m relay to finish eighth in their final. Seán Cronin also finished eighth in Sunday's tactical 1,500m final. Away from Tampere, Nick Griggs, a European Under-20 champion from 2021, smashed his own Irish Under-23 record over 5,000m when clocking a brilliant 13:05.75 in Oordegem, Belgium. Darragh McElhinney also improved his best to 13:02.06, second fastest on the Irish all-time list.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish sprint sensation joins star-studded list by claiming European gold
Conor Kelly, who turned 18 last month, dominated the European under-20 Athletics Championships 400m final in Tampere yesterday, underling his top-ranked status to power away from his rivals to top the podium places. In doing so he became the ninth Irish winner in these championships, going back to John Treacy half a century ago, with the gold-plated list also including Ciara Mageean, Rhasidat Adeleke, Sarah Healy, Sarah Lavin, Kate O'Connor and Mark Carroll. Kelly broke the Irish under-20 record in Morton Stadium last month and did so again in the final in Finland, clocking a time of 45.83 to win gold by over half a second - the silver medal went to France's Milann Klemenic in 46.44. 'This is a dream come true, it's really special," the Finn Valley AC starlet said. The lactic acid has really sunk in now, it was a tough race. Conor Kelly winning the Men's 400 Metre Final during day three of the European Athletics U20 Championships 2025 (Image:for European Athletics) 'Last season hurt, this season had to be special. That bronze was like a dagger and it's been sitting there all season, but I've finally pulled it out. I've dreamt about this every minute of every day since then'. Athenry AC's Seán Doggett finished seventh in 47,16 in the same race, having been in the medal positions in the first half of the race. Doggett had improved his lifetime best to 46.58 in the semi-final. Cormac Dixon was the top-ranked athlete going into the 3,000m final, after running 7:56.59 indoors in the US earlier this season, but the Tallaght AC athlete had to settle for ninth in 8:48.27. Precious Akpe-Moses was just run out of the medals in the 200m, finishing fourth in 23.72, having finished in seventh in the 100m final, while Cian Crampton also finished sixth in the discus with his best throw of 57.76m. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Conor Kelly smashes Irish record to win European U20 400m gold
Conor Kelly produced a blistering 45.83 to shatter his own Irish Under-20 record and power to gold IRELAND'S Conor Kelly delivered a sensational display to storm to gold in the 400m at the Under-20 European Athletics Championships.. The Finn Valley AC star smashed his own Irish U20 record in Finland on Saturday. Advertisement 2 Gold medalist Conor Kelly of Team Ireland celebrates after the Men's 400 Metre Final 2 The Irish star broke his own record in Finland to seal top place He clocked 45.83 to comfortably beat France's Milann Klemenic. Kelly - who only turned 18 three weeks ago - had set the previous national record of 45.83 at the Morton Games last month but lowered that mark in Tampere. The London-born sprinter - whose parents are Irish - took bronze at last year's European Championships in Slovakia. But this time stood on top of the podium and lapped up the glory. Advertisement He became the ninth Irish athlete to win gold at the championships, cementing his place as the continent's leading Under-20 400m runner. Speaking after the stunning, he said: "It's special. Honestly, I've dreamed about this everyday. Every minute of every day," he told Athletics Ireland after his victory.
