Team Ireland delivered impressive performances once again at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg yesterday. Competing across various age categories, the Irish athletes excelled on the cross country course as well as on the track, securing several notable individual and team results.
In the individual events, Joe Stewart and Brian Lynch both finished 5th in their respective M80 and M70 categories. The W60 group saw Irene Clements finish 11th, with Sue Zlnay and Anne Hegarty placing 18th and 21st, respectively. Annette Kealy shone in the W55 category, winning a silver medal with a strong 2nd place finish, while Donna Evans came in 7th. In the W50 category, Breda Gaffney and Michelle Lannon delivered close finishes, placing 7th and 8th. Michelle Kenny secured a gold medal in the W45 category with a standout performance, and her fellow Team Ireland athletes Catherine O'Connor and Paula Donnellan placed 7th and 21st. Fiona Gettings earned a bronze medal in the W40 category, with Karla Doran and Rachel Murphy following in 9th and 10th places. Joe Gallagher placed 19th in the M65 category, while Ian Egan placed 38th in the M55 category. Stephen Monaghan finished 29th in the M50 category, alongside Tribal Running's Sean McDermott who came in 38th place.
The team events saw Ireland continue their success, with the W40 team of Fiona Gettings, Karla Doran, and Rachel Murphy winning gold. The W45 team, consisting of Michelle Kenny, Catherine O'Connor, and Paula Donnellan, secured silver, as did the W50 team of Breda Gaffney, Michelle Lannon, and Annette Kealy. The W60 team placed 5th, and the M50 team finished 6th.
In track and field events, Edel Maguire had a remarkable day, winning gold in the high jump with a leap of 1.39m, equalling the Championship Record. She followed this achievement with a bronze medal in the 200m roughly an hour later. This achievement cannot be understated and Edel deserves all the credit in the world for taking home two medals for Ireland across two disciplines in roughly 60 minutes.
Overall, Ireland's performances have placed them 19th on the medal table, with a total of 17 medals: 5 gold, 5 silver, and 7 bronze. The togetherness amongst the whole team and the enthusiastic presence of Irish supporters have been vital in propelling Team Ireland to success at these Championships.
Featured Image: Left by Stephen Monaghan. Right by Michelle Kenny
