Latest news with #EuropeanU20
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
St Peter's AC Dromiskin athlete Dearbhla Allen makes final at first major international championships
European U20 track and field championships Saint Peter's AC athlete Dearbhla Allen was on duty last weekend on the international stage when she took her place on the start line in the European U20 track and field championships in Tampere, Finland. Although Dearbhla had previously represented Ireland on six occasions, this was her first experience at a major Championship. Dearbhla's target for the championship was to make it through her heat and qualify for the final of her event the U20 Women's 3000m Steeplechase. Her heat was on Friday morning and if her support team had any fears of nerves effecting her performance, they were soon put to bed as Dearbhla got a brilliant start and followed hot on the heals of the lead athlete to stay in second position for most of the race. In the closing stages some athletes passed her out but she dug deep to qualify for the final. The final surprisingly was the following day which was a short turnaround but Dearbhla took her place on the start line and again showed tremendous bravery and put herself right in the mix. As the last few laps came the pace increased in the baking sunshine and this tremendously brave athlete hung on as best she could up against the very best in Europe. Dearbhla managed to finish eleventh in the final following her sixth place finish in the heat. All in all, she lcan ook back on her debut major international championship with pride as she went toe-to-toe with the best in Europe and didn't look out of place. Dearbhla can look back on her track and field season with a huge sense of accomplishment winning three national titles and making the European U20 final, a fantastic season and at an age group that she is eligible again for in 2026.
The Journal
2 days 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
2 days 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 Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Conor Kelly wins 400m gold for Ireland at Euro U20 Championships
Conor Kelly produced a remarkable performance to claim gold for Ireland at the European U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland on Saturday evening, the 18-year-old dominating the men's 400m final to win in 45.83 seconds. That broke his previous Irish U-20 record of 45.85 and brought him home well clear of France's Milann Klemenic (46.44) and Czechia's Ondrej Loupal (46.62). Kelly is the ninth Irish athlete to have won gold at the European U-20 Championships, which date back to 1970, with Elizabeth Ndudi the most recent winner before him, the Dubliner taking long jump gold in 2023. His time moves him eighth on the Irish all-time list. The winning moment! 🥇 Conor Kelly 🇮🇪 is the 2025 European U20 400m champion! 🍀 #Tampere2025 — European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) August 9, 2025 'An incredible day at the office,' said Kelly. 'I need a bonus – I'm working overtime here. I just want to enjoy this achievement. It's taken a lot of work and I'm so proud.' Kelly had gone into the championships as the favourite and the Finn Valley athlete, who broke the Irish U-20 record indoors with 46.54, proved a class apart throughout, winning his heat in 46.94 and his semi-final in 46.58. Kelly was born and raised in London to Irish parents – his mother Mary-Jo hailing from Derry while his father, Steve, was born in Lisburn and grew up in Dublin. Last year, he smashed the Irish U-18 400m record to win bronze at the European U-18 Championships in Slovakia and then helped the Irish men's 4x400m team reach a final at the World U-20 Championships in Peru. 'Last year's bronze was great, but it hurt me,' he said. '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%. My coaches, dietician, physio and all the people around me – it's a big team. This feels amazing.' Sean Doggett was also in action in the 400m final, finishing seventh in 47.16, while earlier in the evening, Precious Akpe-Moses – the younger sister of former European U-20 100m champion Gina – finished fourth in the women's 200m final, clocking 23.72 (-2.0m/s). Gold went to Germany's Judith Bilepo Mokobe in 23.40. 'The bend was so good and then I just think after all six races I've done, I might have lost it a bit,' said Akpe-Moses, who finished seventh in the 100m final on Friday. "But I'm okay with where I came. Fourth in Europe was the best I could do, so I'm content.' Akpe-Moses returned to the track soon after to help Ireland to second place in their heat of the women's 4x100m, clocking 45.27 to automatically advance to Sunday's final alongside Fatima Amusan, Molly Daly and Leila Colfer. Switzerland took victory in 44.63. Cian Crampton had a strong showing in the men's discus final, the Edenderry athlete throwing his leading mark of 57.76m in the final round, which was good enough for sixth, with gold going to Dutch athlete Jarno van Dalen with 63.18m. 'I would have liked a bit more but I can't complain with sixth,' said Crampton. 'I was looking for a medal, but it didn't work out in my favour.' Dubem Amah was 'over the moon' to reach the men's 200m final after clocking 21.30 in his semi-final. The 17-year-old Tallaght sprinter went on to finish seventh in 21.76 into a stiff headwind (-2.9m/s), with gold going to Italy's Diego Nappi in 20.77. Cormac Dixon came home ninth in the 3000m in 8:48.27, while the Irish men's 4x400m team of Alex Cullen, Andrew Hayes, Ethan Dewhirst and David Davitt fell short of the final after clocking 3:12.28 to finish fourth in their heat.
