Irish Senior Stars in Action Across Three Continents this Weekend

It is a busy and wide ranging weekend for Irish athletics, with senior athletes in action across three continents as the indoor season begins to gather pace. Earlier today, we looked at the Irish collegiate athletes in action across the NCAA indoor circuit, with US based Irish runners competing at meetings nationwide. You can read that preview here. From World Indoor Tour meetings in Europe and the United States to long haul racing in New Zealand and domestic league action at home, the coming days offer an early look at form, fitness and intent as athletes begin to shape their indoor campaigns.

Meeting Internacional Catalunya de Pista Coberta

Sabadell, Spain | Pista Coberta de Catalunya | Friday January 23rd

The action kicks off this evening with upcoming middle distance talent Eimear Maher heads into action in the women’s 1500 metres at the Meeting Internacional Catalunya de Pista Coberta in Sabadell, just outside Barcelona. The event takes place at the Pista Coberta de Catalunya, a dedicated indoor athletics facility that regularly hosts high level competitions on the World Athletics Indoor Tour Challenger circuit.

Maher enjoyed excellent progress last season, highlighted by a bronze medal in the European under 23 1500 metres and a string of strong performances on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Cooks International Classic

Whanganui, New Zealand | Cooks Gardens | Saturday January 24th

While much of the Irish action this weekend takes place across Europe and the United States, Laura Nicholson finds herself competing quite literally on the other side of the world. Nicholson lines up in the Mile in Whanganui in the early hours of Sunday morning Irish time, opening her season at one of New Zealand’s most established meetings.

Now working under the guidance of coach Nick Bideau, this race offers an early test of where Nicholson’s fitness is sitting.

New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Boston, Massachusetts | The Track at New Balance | Saturday January 24th

A top class Irish contingent heads to Boston this weekend for one of the most prestigious meetings on the World Indoor Tour calendar, with strong representation across the men’s distance events and plenty of familiar names lining up at a venue that has already delivered major moments for Irish athletics.

Leading the Irish interest is Andrew Coscoran, one of the most consistent distance performers Ireland has produced in recent years. The Star of the Sea athlete arrives as the reigning Irish 5000 metres champion and recent silver medallist over 1500 metres, and should feel right at home on the New Balance track. It was here last year that Coscoran produced a career defining run to set a new Irish indoor 3000 metres record, a mark that still stands. Returning to the same venue and the same meet, the question now is how close he can get to that level again, or even beyond it.

There is further depth to the Irish challenge in the 3000 metres through Brian Fay, who comes into the indoor season off the back of an outstanding winter. The Raheny Shamrock runner played a key role in Ireland’s first ever senior men’s team silver at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa in December, before backing that up with a strong individual showing at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee just weeks ago. With that strength work now in the legs, Fay will be targeting a sharp early indoor performance.

Completing the Irish contingent in the 3000m is Nick Griggs, fresh from a breakthrough cross country campaign that finally brought individual European gold at his fourth attempt. The Candour Track Club athlete was also central to Ireland’s team success at Euro Cross and now turns his attention back to the track. Griggs already holds the Irish U20 & U23 indoor 3000 metres record, and this race presents an opportunity to measure himself against a high quality international field early in the season.

Rounding out the Irish entries is Cian McPhillips, who opens his indoor campaign over 600 metres. The Mullingar Harriers athlete enjoyed a late surge outdoors in 2025, highlighted by a standout semi final win and fourth place finish at the World Athletics Championships over 800 metres, along with a significant improvement on the national record. Stepping down in distance indoors, McPhillips lines up in a race that could offer an early indication of where his speed is sitting, with Mark English’s newly set Irish 600 metres record providing a clear benchmark.

Meeting Indoor de Lyon

Lyon, France | Halle Stéphane Diagana | Saturday January 24th

There is a strong Irish presence in Lyon, led by Mark English, who returns to action in the men’s 800 metres following an extraordinary last week. The Finn Valley athlete arrives off the back of a remarkable double, setting new Irish indoor records over both 600 metres and 800 metres within the space of four days. With that form in hand, English will be targeting another front running performance.

Also opening her season in Lyon is Jodie McCann, who begins her indoor schedule over 1500 metres. 

Completing the Irish trio is Bori Akinola, who kicks off his indoor season in the 60 metres. The University College Dublin sprinter has shown strong progression in recent years and this race provides a first chance to gauge his early season speed.

National Indoor League Round One

Ireland | National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown | Saturday January 24th

Domestic attention this weekend turns to Abbotstown, where a full programme of club competition gets underway with the opening round of the National Indoor League. A whole host of athletes from clubs across the country will be in action, with points on offer across track and field events as teams begin their push towards qualification.

This is the first of two qualifying rounds, with the second set to take place in Athlone on Sunday February 8th. Performances across both rounds will determine which clubs earn a place in the league finals, scheduled for Friday February 14th.

Last season saw Clonliffe Harriers AC take the men’s title, while Ratoath AC topped the standings in the women’s competition

Meeting de Paris Indoor

Paris, France | Accor Arena | Sunday January 25th

Irish interest in Paris centres on Sarah Lavin, who opens her indoor season in the women’s 60 metre hurdles. The Emerald AC athlete is the reigning Irish indoor champion over the distance and also holds the national outdoor title over 100 metre hurdles.

With this marking her first outing of the indoor campaign, expectations are naturally measured, but Lavin will be keen to produce a solid early run and begin building momentum. Paris has long been a favoured early season stop for top hurdlers, with Lavin making the final of 60m event at this meet in 2025. 

Meeting Moniz Pereira

Portugal | Pista Coberta | Sunday January 25th

A strong Dublin City Harriers trio lines up in Portugal, with Lucy Holmes, Philip Marron and Niamh Kerr all in action as they continue their indoor campaigns over 2000 metres.

Holmes arrives with solid credentials at both national and university level. She claimed silver in the 1500 metres at the Irish Universities Championships last year before going on to secure gold over 800 metres, and followed that up with a silver medal at the Irish Outdoor Championships over 1500 metres, just beaten on that occasion by Eimear Maher. 

Also competing is Philip Marron, the bronze medallist in the men’s 1500 metres at last year’s Irish Indoor Championships. Marron went on to reach the final of the outdoor championships over the same distance and will be looking to translate that domestic form onto the indoor circuit as this year.

Rounding out the Dublin City Harriers contingent is Niamh Kerr, who enjoyed a strong summer on the track, highlighted by a silver medal in the women’s 1500 metres at the Irish Outdoor Championships. After showing good form last season, Kerr will be keen to continue that trajectory indoors as the year unfolds.

With Irish athletes spread from Whanganui to Boston and Lyon to Paris, this weekend underlines just how global the early indoor season has become. For some, these races are about laying down a first marker. For others, they are a chance to build on momentum already earned. Either way, the performances across the weekend will begin to frame the months ahead as the indoor calendar moves steadily towards championships and selection deadlines.