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The Irish Sun
09-08-2025
- 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.
RTÉ News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Conor Kelly claims gold for Ireland at European Under-20 Athletics Championships
Ireland's Conor Kelly produced a stellar performance to win gold in the 400m at the Under-20 European Athletics Championships in Finland. The Finn Valley AC athlete lowered his own Irish Under-20 record, clocking a time of 45.83 to win by a comfortable margin from France's Milann Klemenic who finished over half a second behind. Kelly, who turned 18 three weeks ago, had set a new national record of 45.83 at the Morton Games last month but improved on that time in Tampere. Last year, he claimed bronze at the European Championships in Slovakia but has climbed to the top of the podium this year, becoming the ninth Irish athlete to take gold in the championships and underline his status as the leading Under-20 400m sprinter on the continent. Kelly, who was born in London to Irish parents, said he had dreamt in finishing top of the podium at an international podium. "It's special. Honestly, I've dreamed about this everyday. Every minute of every day," he told Athletics Ireland after his victory. In the same race, Athenry's Seán Doggett placed seventh in a time of 47.16. Earlier, Cormac Dixon finished ninth in the final of the 3000m, while Precious Akpe-Moses was run out of the medals in the 200m, finishing fourth in a time of 23.72.
Irish Independent
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘I had a plan' – Mark English wins tenth 800m national title and hints at his future with a lap of honour
The Donegal athlete's foot-perfect performance proved an undoubted highlight of the National Track and Field Championships, English continuing the best season of his career so far, having won European Indoor bronze in March before setting the five fastest times of his career outdoors. It's 14 years since English won his first senior title, aged 18, and he has ruled this domain with dictatorial authority since. But in Cian McPhillips, he had a worthy pretender to his throne, the Longford athlete going second on the Irish all-time list with his recent 1:44.19 at the Morton Games. After a controlled first lap of 55 seconds, English sat second with McPhillips stalking his every move in third. English edged to the lead on the last bend and McPhillips spotted him a metre as they hit the straight – something you just can't do for a rival of English's class. English hit the jets at that point and pulled clear with every stride, hitting the line in 1:48.76 to McPhillips' 1:49.26. 'I was a little bit nervous coming into that,' said English. 'There was a bunch of guys who all train together and I had to race them all, so I knew it was going to be difficult. But I had a plan and I executed that, and it worked out.' English said he has not yet decided if this will be his last season, but it was notable that he did a lap of honour after the race – a rarity at nationals. If that was his way of saying goodbye to this fabled stadium, it was quite the farewell. Andrew Coscoran went after an ambitious double in the 5000m and 1500m, with less than 90 minutes between finals. The Dubliner was coolness personified in the longer race, biding his time and kicking past his former training partner Brian Fay to win in 13:34.14. But whether it was the fatigue from that or a lapse in concentration, Coscoran was shuffled back at a key stage of the 1500m final, languishing in seventh with 250 metres to run. Up front, Cathal Doyle turned the screw and the Clonliffe Harrier wasn't for catching, taking his fourth straight title in 3:53.60. Coscoran came from the clouds to take silver in 3:53.84 with rising star Nick Griggs taking a brilliant bronze in 3:53.90. There was an emotional win in the women's 100m for Ciara Neville, the Emerald AC athlete winning her first senior outdoor title since 2019. Neville suffered a severe injury in her hamstring tendon in 2021, which cost her a shot at the Tokyo Olympics and she endured many dark days in the years since as she tried to recapture her best form. But the 25-year-old looked back near her best as she clocked 11.44 in still conditions to take gold ahead of Lauren Roy (11.49). 'It's been such a battle with injury,' said Neville. 'This year I knew I was coming back into myself and I'm just delighted. This was my year to put down a statement that I'm back. I couldn't be happier. I have to give my team in Limerick such credit for sticking by me, getting me back. They've been with me the whole way.' Neville is coached by Noelle Morrissey and it was a great day for their stable, as Sarah Lavin powered to her 10th national title in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.92 (-0.6m/s). 'It was clean, it was solid,' said Lavin. 'I'm happy with that.' There was a big upset in the women's 800m as Alex O'Neill of Limerick Track Club outfoxed her rivals, kicking off the front after a pedestrian first 600m and holding off the late surge of Sarah Healy to win in 2:04.53. 'I was hoping it'd go to a kick finish,' said O'Neill. 'I'm a bit shocked.' Nicola Tuthill produced a superb effort of 71.75m to win the hammer throw, the recent World University Games silver medallist adding 4cm to the Irish U-23 record she'd thrown in Finland earlier this summer. Reece Ademola underlined his vast potential with a magnificent 8.00m leap to win the men's long jump, the only shame being the tailwind of 2.6m/s meant it won't count as a personal best. The Leevale athlete underwent knee surgery last August and only returned to jumping in late June. There was a golden double for the Dublin Sprint Club training group in the 400m finals, with Sophie Becker dominating the women's race to win in 52.87 and Jack Raftery a class apart in the men's, clocking 45.71. Bori Akinola was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 100m in 10.29 (-0.5m/s), his first senior outdoor title, while Irish record holder Israel Olatunde had to withdraw from the final with a niggle, having won his semi-final in 10.45.
Irish Independent
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Sharlene Mawdsley confirms her class with a thrilling win at National Track and Field Championships
Mawdsley came from behind to overhaul Lavin in the home straight of the women's 200m, the undoubted highlight on day one of the National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium. The match-up pitted the raw speed of Lavin – the second fastest Irishwoman in history over 100m – against the formidable speed endurance of Mawdsley, who stepped down from her specialist 400m distance. Lavin ran a strong bend and turned for home just in front, but over the latter half Mawdsley's strength told as she powered past, clocking 23.55 into a stiff, 2.6m/s headwind. Lavin hit the line second with 23.80 and Lauren Roy just behind in third with 23.88. 'I'm really happy,' said Mawdsley. 'Sarah came out [well] and sometimes I get really tight when someone comes up on me, but I've been training this year with girls who've been beating me all around, so I was really happy to come away with the win. I'm in a weird transition [in training] at the moment so I wanted to go down to the 200m and have a bit of fun.' Marcus Lawler was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 200m, the Carlow native, who runs for Clonliffe AC, blasting to victory in 20.66 (0.4m/s), a long way clear of Darragh McConville (21.41) and Adam Murphy (21.51). 'I'm delighted with the run,' said Lawler. 'It's pretty decent in terms of the overall season. I got out very well and wanted to attack the first 50, I came into the straight really well and from that point, it was about trying to hold it as best I could.' The men's 800m heats offered an intriguing insight into what's to come on Sunday evening, with Mark English and Cian McPhillips set to duel for the national title. English is enjoying a breakthrough season at the age of 32, having run the five quickest times of his career over 800m, highlighted by his national record of 1:43.92. He will seek his 10th national outdoor title and will toe the line as favourite, but he will face a stiff test from 23-year-old McPhillips, who is seeking his first national outdoor title, having smashed his lifetime best to recently win at the Morton Games in 1:44.19. Both coasted to victory in their respective 800m heats, with English turning on the jets in notable fashion over the last 100m to clock 1:48.92 and McPhillips running well within himself to coast home in 1:52.58. 'It's going to be great, it should be a good fight,' said McPhillips. 'I'm looking forward to it.' There should be another thrilling duel in the men's 1500m final where Andrew Coscoran and Cathal Doyle look to hold all the aces, with both coasting through their heats on Saturday. Paris Olympian Eric Favors proved a class apart in the men's shot put, the Raheny athlete taking gold with a best of 19.58m while his clubmate Niamh Fogarty took the women's shot put with 14.29m. Farranfore's David Kenny was an impressive winner of the men's 10,000m race walk, clocking 39:39.93, while Kate Veale of West Waterford racked up another title in the women's 5000m race walk, clocking 23:46.46. Abbie Sheridan of St Peter's claimed victory in the women's 3000m steeplechase in 10:05.72, while the men's title was won in fine style by Finley Daly of Sligo in 8:59.04. Darragh Fahy of Loughrea took the men's triple jump with 13.91m, Aoife O'Sullivan of Liscarroll took the women's high jump with 1.75m, while Raheny's Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen inflicted a rare defeat on Saragh Buggy in the women's triple jump, taking gold with 13.05m to Buggy's 12.74m. Conor Penney of Craughwell took the men's high jump with 2.10m, while Conor Cusack of Lake District took the men's javelin with 75.42m. UCD's quartet of Ella Duane, Molly Hourihan, Anna Lalor and Rhianna McCarthy took the women's 4x100m in 48.40, while Tallaght's team of Simon Essuman, David Aigboboh, Joseph Finnegan Murphy and Joseph Ojewumi took the men's 4x100m in 41.66. Sunday's action will be live streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 5-7.30pm. Day tickets cost €15, while U-16s go free.
Irish Examiner
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Sharlene Mawdsley overhauls Sarah Lavin to land women's 200m national title
Sarah Lavin might have had the speed, but in a clash of styles over 200m in Santry on Saturday, it was Sharlene Mawdsley who had the best strength – and that proved key in carrying the Tipperary sprinter to the national title. Mawdsley came from behind to overhaul Lavin in the home straight of the women's 200m, the undoubted highlight on day one of the National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium. The match-up pitted the raw speed of Lavin – the second fastest Irishwoman in history over 100m – against the formidable speed endurance of Mawdsley, who stepped down from her specialist 400m distance. Lavin ran an impressive bend and turned for home just in front, but over the latter half Mawdsley's strength told as she powered past, clocking 23.55 into a stiff, 2.6m/s headwind. Lavin hit the line second with 23.80 and Lauren Roy just behind in third with 23.88. 'I'm really happy,' said Mawdsley. 'Sarah came out [well] and sometimes I get really tight when someone comes up on me, but I've been training this year with girls who've been beating me all around, so I was really happy to come away with the win. I'm in a weird transition [in training] at the moment so I wanted to go down to the 200m and have a bit of fun.' Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC, Tipperary, centre, gold, Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC, Limerick, silver, and Lauren Roy of Fast Twitch AC, bronze. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile. Marcus Lawler was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 200m, the Carlow native, who runs for Clonliffe AC, blasting to victory in 20.66 (0.4m/s), a long way clear of Darragh McConville (21.41) and Adam Murphy (21.51). 'I'm delighted with the run,' said Lawler. 'It's pretty decent in terms of the overall season. I got out very well and wanted to attack the first 50, I came into the straight really well and from that point, it was about trying to hold it as best I could.' The men's 800m heats offered an intriguing insight into what's to come on Sunday evening, with Mark English and Cian McPhillips set to duel for the national title. English is enjoying a breakthrough season at the age of 32, having run the five quickest times of his career over 800m, highlighted by his national record of 1:43.92. He will seek his 10th national outdoor title and will toe the line as favourite, but he will face a stiff test from 23-year-old McPhillips, who is seeking his first national outdoor title, having smashed his lifetime best to recently win at the Morton Games in 1:44.19. Both coasted to victory in their respective 800m heats, with English turning on the jets in notable fashion over the last 100m to clock 1:48.92 and McPhillips running well within himself to coast home in 1:52.58. 'It's going to be great, it should be a good fight,' said McPhillips. 'I'm looking forward to it.' There should be another thrilling duel in the men's 1500m final where Andrew Coscoran and Cathal Doyle look to hold all the aces, with both coasting through their heats on Saturday. Paris Olympian Eric Favors proved a class apart in the men's shot put, the Raheny athlete taking gold with a best of 19.58m while his clubmate Niamh Fogarty took the women's shot put with 14.29m. Farranfore's David Kenny was an impressive winner of the men's 10,000m race walk, clocking 39:39.93, while Kate Veale of West Waterford racked up another title in the women's 5000m race walk, clocking 23:46.46. Abbie Sheridan of St Peter's claimed victory in the women's 3000m steeplechase in 10:05.72, while the men's title was won in fine style by Finley Daly of Sligo in 8:59.04. Darragh Fahy of Loughrea took the men's triple jump with 13.91m, Aoife O'Sullivan of Liscarroll took the women's high jump with 1.75m, while Raheny's Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen inflicted a rare defeat on Saragh Buggy in the women's triple jump, taking gold with 13.05m to Buggy's 12.74m. Conor Penney of Craughwell took the men's high jump with 2.10m, while Conor Cusack of Lake District took the men's javelin with 75.42m. UCD's quartet of Ella Duane, Molly Hourihan, Anna Lalor and Rhianna McCarthy took the women's 4x100m in 48.40, while Tallaght's team of Simon Essuman, David Aigboboh, Joseph Finnegan Murphy and Joseph Ojewumi took the men's 4x100m in 41.66. Sunday's action will be live streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube channel, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from 5-7.30pm. Day tickets cost €15, while U-16s go free.
