Irish Team Selections for World Indoors Revealed

Athletics Ireland has confirmed the Irish team for the upcoming World Indoor Championships, with a mix of established international performers and emerging talent selected for the championships in Toruń, Poland, which take place from March 20th to March 22nd.

A total of eight athletes have secured their place outright by achieving the qualifying standard, while four others have been provisionally selected after achieving the B standard and are awaiting confirmation of their ranking qualification by World Athletics.

Leading the Irish challenge is multi event star Kate O’Connor. The Dundalk St Gerard’s athlete has become one of Ireland’s most consistent championship performers in recent years, collecting medals across multiple major competitions. Her silver medal at last year’s World Indoor Championships was followed by gold at the World University Games and another global silver outdoors, establishing her as one of Ireland’s strongest medal hopes once again.

Finn Valley’s Mark English is also confirmed after another excellent indoor season. The five time European medallist has already lowered his own Irish indoor 800 metres record this year and remains one of the country’s most reliable performers on the international stage.

Ireland will also have a strong presence in the men’s 3000 metres with both Nick Griggs and Andrew Coscoran selected. Griggs has enjoyed a superb run of form, winning European Under 23 gold in December, claiming victory at the Armagh International Road Race, and taking the national indoor 3000m title earlier this month. Coscoran meanwhile brings vast championship experience and will once again look to compete strongly against the world’s best.

Sarah Lavin returns for another major championship in the women’s 60 metres hurdles after winning the national indoor title. Maeve O’Neill, originally of Doheny AC and now competing for Providence in the NCAA, has enjoyed a breakthrough indoor season and recently set a new Irish indoor 800 metres record of 2:00.33.

There is also a strong NCAA presence elsewhere in the squad. Lauren Roy has been in excellent form in the United States with Tarleton State, running a qualifying time of 7.19 in the 60 metres to secure automatic selection.

Another athlete enjoying a breakthrough indoor season is Bori Akinola of UCD AC, who has secured his place in the men’s 60 metres. The sprinter has been in outstanding form throughout the winter, lowering the Irish national record and picking up victories on the European indoor circuit, including strong performances in both France and Glasgow. His rapid progress this season marks him out as one of the most exciting sprint prospects in Irish athletics heading into the championships.

Four athletes have also been provisionally selected after achieving the B standard. Their final inclusion will depend on confirmation of the World Athletics quota rankings.

With the championships now just ten days away, the final Irish team is expected to be confirmed shortly.

Confirmed Selections

🏃‍♀️ Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – Dundalk St Gerard’s AC
🏃‍♂️ Mark English – Men’s 800m – Finn Valley AC
🏃‍♀️ Maeve O’Neill – Women’s 800m – Doheny AC/Providence
🏃‍♂️ Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 3000m – Star of the Sea AC
🏃‍♂️ Nick Griggs – Men’s 3000m – Candour Track Club
🏃‍♀️ Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Emerald AC
🏃🏾‍♂️ Bori Akinola – Men’s 60m – UCD AC
🏃‍♀️ Lauren Roy – Women’s 60m –  Fast Twitch AC/Tarleton State

Provisional Selections

🏃‍♀️ Ciara Neville – Women’s 60m – Emerald AC
🏃🏾‍♀️ Elizabeth Ndudi – Women’s Long Jump – Dundrum South Dublin AC/Illinois
🏃‍♀️ Emma Moore – Women’s 800m – Galway City Harriers
🏃‍♂️ James Gormley – Men’s 1500m – Carmen Runners