by Perri Williams
A look ahead at the European u20 Championships
Its Championship time again. Ireland has sent a team of close to forty members to compete at the European u20 Championships which takes place this week from August 7 to 10th in Tampere, Finland. The programme will feature Irish athletes across both track and field events. The selection includes four relay teams: Men's 4x400m and 4x100m and a ladies 4x400m and 4x100m.
There are at least three realistic medal chances from this contingent of athletes, with many more making final rounds or semi-finals in their respective events. Conor Kelly (Finn Valley) comes into the Championships as the fastest u20 on the starting list and the only one to have dipped beneath 46.00. His 45.85 being set on 11th July at the Morton Games. He will lead a strong 4x400m relay team who are also the fastest going into their event. While the composition of relay teams changes over time, Team Ireland have strong runners and should be capable of getting a medal of some colour. Cormac Dixon (Tallaght) heads the 3000m list as the only athlete having secured a sub 8.00 time. His 7.56.59 was secured last February with focus on training blocks and a few 1500m and mile races since May. The Providence athlete has been running well in training thus a medal is well within his capability, especially since choosing to only compete in the 3000m.
Read on for a more in-depth look at each event and what to expect from our athletes.
A look at each event.
Precious Apke-Moses (Blackrock AC) has a PB of 11.64 from July 5th this year. Ranked 41 on the European u20 list. Her 200m time is respectively better. On the same July sunday, she ran 23.66 to move into 22nd on the ranking list. Though she is ranked 13th of the 47 entrants for the 200m.
Destiny Lawal (Dooneen) has a PB of 11.70 from the 14th June. She is ranked 66th and is set to compete along with Apke-Moses in the 4x100m relay. Joining the two girls as part of the relay squad are Lelia Colfer (SLOT) and Fatima Amusan (Leevale). Colfer has a PB of 11.89 over 100m and finished 3rd at the recent u20 Irish Championships behind Amusan and Apke-Moses. While Amusan has a PB of 11.96 although she has run a wind assisted 11.82. Molly Daly (KCH) also travels to Finland for the 4x100m relay. Daly has a best of 12.05, although she does have a 23.67 200m effort.
If all the Irish girls team can produce their best performances, they may stand an outside chance of a medal in the ladies 4x400m relay. None of them are listed to compete in the individual event, giving them the benefit of being rested. A blip by the top four teams places Ireland on the podium. At worst they should make the final. The team will be chosen from Erin Friel (Letterkenny), Daisy Walker (Monaghan Phoenix), Roisin Murray (Bray Runners), Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan) and Maria Zaherenko (Kilcool).
Predictions:
100m: Kelly Ann Edimo (ITA), Phillina Schwartz (GER), Lohane Gerbier (FRA). Look out for Mabel Akande (GBR) who ran 11.36 just two weeks ago to win the British Championships. She has a PB of 11.27 from 2024. Apke-Moses to make the semi-final.
200m: Terezie Táborská (CZH), Wiktoria Gajosz (POL), Judith Mokope (GER), Elisa Valensin (ITA). Precious Apke-Moses to make the semi-final.
Relay 4x100m: Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany with Ireland to make the final.
Relay; 4x400m: Great Britain, Germany, Hungary with Ireland to make the final and an outside chance of a medal.
Middle Distance
Ireland has three entrants in the 800m and one in the 1,500m. Gemma Galvin (Ennis Track) is scheduled to take part in both the 800m and 1500m. She is ranked 20th of the 38 800m entrants with her SB of 2.05.77 which she secured back on the 3rd May in Clonmel. She has however a 1500m time from May 10th in Belfast of 4:18.39, which ranks her 9th of the 22 starters scheduled for Finland. While Galvin has not hit either marker as the season progressed, she did have a good tactical run at the National Championships over 1500m last weekend. Her best option is over 1500m. Great Britain are very strong in this event with seven athletes in the top 10 European rankings and only three allowed to compete at the European Championships.
Pia Langton (KCH) has been getting progressively better with the advancing season. The 2024 u18 European 800m finalist secured her 2.06.00 on the 9th of July. With evidence of current form, the Kilkenny athlete is ranked 24th of the 38 starters and we should expect a performance close to this time. Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan) has a season’s best of 2.06.58 and was another u18 European finalist in 2024. Known for her consistency, Fitzgerald will not doubt be expecting a 2.06 from these championships. Marta Mitjans of Spain is the only athlete in the field to have run under 2.00 this year. The Irish girls will have to run personal bests to make the final of the 800m.
Predictions:
800m: Marta Mitjans (SPA), Jana Marie Becker (GER), Shaikira King (GBR)
1500m: Lyla Belshaw (GBR), Carmen Cernjul (SWE), Jessica Lark (GBR) and Shaikira King (GBR). Gemma Galvin to make the final.
Steeplechase
Ireland has had a meteoric rise in the steeplechase domain over the past few years, especially with the girls. With three competing in the recent European u23 championships and two set to launch their European careers with the u20s.
Dearbhla Allen (St Peter’s) has been extremely consistent over the season, knocking out the B standard in just about every race she has competed in. Allen is ranked 13th of the 33 starters and has the ability to make the final if placed in the right heat. Caoimhe Flannery (Skibbereen) has been equally consistent, flushing out a PB just a few weeks ago of 10.35.38 and ranked 19th. Similar to Allen, with the right race, she has the capability to advance to the final. The top three athletes have dipped under the 10 minute mark this season and barring a mishap they should remain unchallenged and make the podium.
Predictions:
Andrea Nygård Vie (NOR), Karolina Jarošová (CZH), Jule Jutta Linder (GER). Dearbhla Allen and Caoimhe Flannery to make the final.
Heptathlon
The name Enya Silkyena (Ratoath) is no stranger to the international multi-events scene. The Cavan native came into 2025 carrying an injury which delayed her season. She has come a long way since those early months and set a good marker of 5434 points at the Latvian Championships in June. While she has been improving as the summer progressed, she will have to set a few personal bests to secure a top ten finish. Her best event is the javelin for which she should secure her most points. It is interesting to note that at a similar age Silkyena has a faster time over both the 200m and 100m Hurdles than Kate O’Connor, though lags in the other events.
Predictions
Sarolta Kriszt (HUN), Jana Koščak (CRO), Emma Kaul (GER)
BOYS
Sprints
Amah Dubem (Tallaght) has had a great season clocking 21.44 to qualify for the 200m. With 37 starters in this event he will have to run a PB to make the semi-final. Its hard to look beyond Pedro Alfonso (Portugal) for the gold medal in this event but anything can happen in a major championship.
Ireland has a strong contingent of athletes in the 400m. Conor Kelly (Finn Valley) tops the 57 strong starters with his 45.85 recorded on 11th July this year, setting a new national u20 record. He is the only athlete of the 57 starters to have dipped under 46 seconds. Kelly is joined by Sean Doggett (Athenry) and Alex Cullen (KCH) in the 400m. Doggett has a season’s best of 46.59 and is ranked 8th of the 57 starters. With his leaving cert now well out of the way, we should see him get close to that again. Cullen also sat his leaving cert and achieved his 47.37 best. He will however have to run a PB to make the semi-finals.
Ireland has the fastest relay qualification time of all countries with a rapid 3:08.31 set Mannheim in June. There are very real opportunities to secure a medal in this event. Running close will be Great Britian and Germany. Kelly, Doggett and Cullen are joined by Ethan Dewhirst (Tir Connaill), Andrew Hayes (DSD) and Christopher Lynch (Clonliffe) on the 4x400m squad. With the possibility of at least two of the 400m individual athletes having to run 3 rounds of the individual 400m, it is likely that these additional runners will be called upon for the earlier 400m relay rounds.
Predictions:
200m: Pedro Alfonso (POR), William Trulsson (SWE), with bronze decided between Oriol Sanchez (SPA), Ethan Franklin (GBR) and Diego Nappi (ITA).
400m: Conor Kelly (IRL), Tomáš Horák (CZE), Francesco De Santis (ITA). Connor Kelly for a medal, Doggett to make the final.
4x400m Relay: Ireland, Great Britian and Germany. Ireland to medal.
Middle Distance
Oisin Lynch (Killarney valley) ran an excellent race in the Cork City Sports to secure his place on the Irish team for the 800m. Running close to the A standard all the time, the Kerry native has a best of 1:48.63 and will have to run a PB to make the final. He is however capable of producing a personal best given the right heat. It is hard to look beyond William Rabjohns (GBR) for the gold. His 1:45.41 being almost a second ahead of the next fastest athlete Theo Thevenet (FRA).
Ireland have two competitors in the 1500m: Sean Cronin (Clonliffe) and Frank Buchanan (Enniskillen), ranked 14th and 15th respectively. In the case of Cronin are about 4 athletes within 1/10 of a second of his best of 1:43.87. Should he run to form he has an excellent chance of making the final. Håkon Moe Berg (Norway) tops the table at 3:35.41 three seconds ahead of Alois Abraham (France) with Elliot Vermeullen (Belgium) right there with Abraham.
Ireland has three athletes listed to take part in the 3000m and 5000m, though it is unlikely that all three will take part in both. Cormac Dixon (Tallaght) will run in the 3000m with his first round being tomorrow. Dixon is the only athlete to run under 8.00 with a best of 7.56.59. There are a number of guys who have run between 8.00 and 8.04, so he cannot afford to step off the mark. He is ranked 5th in the 5000m but has sensibly opted to focus only on the 3000m to increase his medal chances. Noah Harris (Parnell) is ranked 7th but has not raced since May and has decided not to take part in these championships. Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge) has opted for the 5,000m, where he feels he can produce a more honest performance. Who will forget his solo run at the 5000m schools All-Ireland where he was so close to John Treacy’s long standing record. The 5000m is very open. With Dixon not competing it boils down to four strong contenders, all running within a second of each other – which is nothing over 5,000m. Sem Serrano (BEL) has yet to decide if he will do both the 3000m and 5000m – he is ranked in the top four in both. His decision will affect outcomes. The advantage of the 5000m is it is a final.
Predictions:
800m: William Rabjohns (GBR) Theo Thevenet (FRA) with the bronze medal open between Zaczyk (POL), Hoffman (GER), Waterworth (GBR) and Mamu (ISR).
1500m: Håkon Moe Berg (NOR), Elliot Vermeullen (BEL), Alois Abraham (FRA). Sean Cronin to make the final.
3000m: Cormac Dixon (IRL), Luke Durham (GBR), Sem Serrano (BEL), Oliver McDonald (GBR), Ali Tunç (TUR). Cormac Dixon to medal.
5000m: Oscar Gaitan (ESP), Magnus Øyen (NOR), Sam Serrano (BEL), Williem Renders (BEL), Ali Tunç (TUR).
10km Racewalk
Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley) is coming into the u20 Europeans as the u18 Silver medallist, bringing with that some decent championship experience. Although the distance may be longer (u18 was 5000m), Clarke has performed well over the 10km event. His best of 43.22 minutes achieved in May would rank him 7th in the field of 27 starters. This race could produce an all-Italian podium with Giuseppe Disabato being the only athlete under the 40 min mark at 39.24.99. Behind him his Italian teammate has clocked a best of 41:26.01 with fellow Italian Omar Moretti recording a best of 41:53.54. Walking is subject to strict judges’ scrutiny throughout the race Alessio Coppola with a disqualification based on technical criteria, thus the favourites will be subject to the judges eye for the entire race. Behind the Italians a challenge could come from the two Ukranian athletes, who like the Italians have the advantage of walking as a team.
Predictions
Giuseppe Disabato (ITA), Omar Moretti (ITA), Alessio Coppola (ITA). Seamus Clarke to make the top ten.
Shot Putt
Theo Hanlon (Suncroft) is our entry for the shot putt. Hanlon was very unfortunate not to make the u18 European’s last year, just 3cm off the qualification and surpassing it in a competition while those European’s were taking place. This year he secured an early standard in May in Clonmel with replication just in time for the closing date a few weeks ago. His best of 17.96m is not enough for a medal but participation will give impetus for the Kildare native to move through the ranks as a decent senior athlete. If he can control the final part of his spin, he is capable of reaching over 18m. Dutchman Jarno Van Daalen is last years World u20 champion in the shot and silver medallist in the Discus. He has thrown a best this year of just 21.08m, his pedigree along with being the only person in the field over the 21m mark, places him as the favourite for gold.
Predictions
Jarno Van Daalen (NED), Aatu Kangasniemi (FIN), František Jabůrek (CZE).
Discus
Cian Campton (Edenderry) secured a medal at last years u18 European Championships. He has twice broken the Irish u20 discus record this year with his best throw being 58.32m. Ranked 14th , it is within his capabilities to advance from the preliminaries to the final round. A medal may be out of his reach this year but progress his happening and the Edenderry athlete (who is a cousin to shot putter Theo Hanlon) would hope to make the final. Van Daalen tops the ranking at 66.31m, almost a meter ahead of Zsombor Dobó (Hungary). A double shot and discus could be likely for the Dutchman.
Predictions
Jarno Van Daalen (NED), Zsombor Dobó (HUN), Mico Lampinen (FIN), Samuel Conjungo (FRA). Cian Crampton to make the final round.
