18-07-2025
Anika Thompson grabs U23 European gold for Ireland, Nicola Tuthill secures silver
Anika Thompson has become Ireland's second European Under-23 athletics champion in 33 years after taking gold in the women's 10,000m final in Norway while Nicola Tuthill earned the first Irish field medal by claiming silver in the hammer.
Thompson went out hard in Bergen, sticking with the leaders for the majority of the 24-lap race before sprinting home to take the win in a new national U23 record of 32:31.47.
Thompson, born and raised in Oregon, but representing Ireland through her Cork-born mother, follows on from another woman of Rebel ancestry Sophie O'Sullivan, who claimed Ireland's first ever gold at these championships in the 1500m two years ago.
The newly crowned champion said she had planned to attack the race from the start and showed grit throughout the race to stick with the pace.
EUROPEAN U23 CHAMPION ANIKA THOMPSON 🥇🥇🥇🥇
Anika Thompson speaking to us after winning the women's 10,000m in a new U23 record of 32:31.47 👊 #irishathletics
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 18, 2025
"I'm overjoyed,"Thompson said afterwards.
"The plan was to go by instincts, and I trusted my gut. I knew that I had every tactic in the bag, I could do well if it went out slow or if it went out honest."
Thompson's parents were unable to attend, but her wider family from County Cork were in the crowd to cheer her on.
"My granny Marie, my aunt Fiona, and my uncle Kevin are here… I was glad to put on a show for them today."
Heather Murphy finished 19th in a time of 35:07.09.
Nicola Tuthill (above) made history again just 30 minutes later by claiming silver in the women's hammer with a throw of 70.90m.
This is the first field event medal for Ireland at the championships, with Tuthill throwing her best of the competition in the fourth round.
"Second is where I was ranked, and second is where I came, so delighted with that," she said.
"I'm always looking for a little bit more, but these medals are really hard to come by.
"It's really special.. I know there is more in but it's still another throw over 70m and my third best in the competition so in a major championships like this, with the nerves and everything that comes with it I'm delighted. "
In the morning session, two Irish athletes secured qualification to finals.
Eimear Maher of DSD AC progressed to the final of the women's 1500m by finishing third and securing an automatic qualification spot in a time of 4:13.84.
This is Maher's debut championship on the track, and she comes in with an impressive personal best of 4:08.67.
Cara Laverty of Finn Valley AC was ninth in heat one of the women's 1500m in 4:23.66, which wasn't enough to qualify on this occasion.
Ava O'Connor also secured her place in the women's 3,000m steeplechase final, crossing the line in second place in 10:02.95.
Alexandra Joyce made her Irish debut just three months after taking up the steeple event and finished just two seconds off her personal best in 10:15.63 to take 11th place in heat one.
Ailish Hawkins completed the steeplechase trio, finishing her competition in 11th position in heat two in a time of 10:44.45.
Andrew Egan made his individual debut, after being part of the 4x400m squad two years ago in Espoo. Egan finished in fifth position in 21.77, which was two places outside automatic qualifying.
Maher will race in the 1500m final on Sunday afternoon, and O'Connor will run in the 3000m steeplechase final on Saturday evening.
Tomorrow will see Nick Griggs make his 5,000m championship debut. Anna Gavigan will compete in the morning session in the women's discus qualification.
