by Perri Williams
The European Athletics U23 Championships starts this week with 36 Irish athletes competing, one of the highest ever. The team will compete across various events over the four days (17-20 July) in Fana stadium, Bergen. This is a first for Norway and a sixth time a Scandinavian city has staged the u23s, with the previous edition being held in Espoo, Finland in 2023.
Since its inception in 1997, the biennial competition has been used as a major milestone in transitioning athletes into world-class competition. In a study conducted in 2014, 33% of male and 26% of females from Ireland who competed at the u23 level went on to global level competitions.
Irish athletes have previously won medals at the European U23 Athletics Championships and competed on the world stage. These include: Sophie O'Sullivan who won gold in the 1500m in 2023, Sarah Healy who won silver in the 1500m in 2023, and Brian Gregan who won silver in the 400m in 2011.
Nicola Tuthill highest ranked Irish athlete
Several Irish athletes are ranked highly, featuring in the top ten, with Nicola Tuthill (UCD) ranked at number 2 in the hammer. Tuthill will be the first Irish athlete to compete, with the hammer qualification rounds scheduled for 12.45pm Thursday morning (17th July). This is the Bandon natives second European u23 competition having been placed 4th in Espoo two years ago. She will be hoping to build on the gold she won the u23 European Throwing cup earlier this year. Her main rival will be Aileen Kuhn (Germany) who has a best of 72.48 achieved on June 1.
Nicholas Griggs ranked at number 3
Nicholas Griggs (CNDR) is no stranger to European track events having won the u20 3,000m as a 17-year-old in Tallin in 2021. He subsequently took silver in the same event in 2023 in Jerusalem. Griggs is making his first appearance over 5,000m at a major championship and is ranked 3rd with a season’s best of 13:26.16. Although he does have the second fastest personal best (13:13.07). His main rival will be the brilliant Niels Laros (Netherlands). The prodigiously talented Laros has set himself the formidable task of achieving a rather unusual double over 800m and 5,000m. The twice European u18 and u20 gold medallist, is known for his sense of calm, poised self-confidence, particularly in challenging situations. Local athlete Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen should not be discounted. His best of 13:22.38 and the support of the home crowd might pose a threat to Laros’ dominance. Ireland has a full contingent of athletes in this race with Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) and Callum Morgan (CNDR) joining Griggs. Ranked 8th and 9th respectively, the three athletes represent a strong Irish presence in the 5,000m. Set your clocks for Saturday at 6.30pm.
Laadjel, who also competes in the 10,000m on day 1 (Thursday) will have the arduous task of being sufficiently recovered for Saturday’s 5,000m race. Ranked 3rd of the 28 competitors in the 10,000, the Donore Harriers athlete finished 4th in Espoo two years ago and has his eyes on the podium this time around. He will be joined by Niall Murphy (Ennis Track).
Three Irish Steeplechasers
Irish steeplechase standards have continued to improve as the event evolves within many clubs with over seven Irish ladies recording a sub 10:30 this season alone. Ireland will fill all three eligible slots in the ladies’ steeplechase which will be headed by Irish u23 record holder Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers). Joining O’Connor will be Ailish Hawkins (DCH) and Alexandra Joyce (Tuam AC). With a time of 9:45.00 under her belt, the fourth ranked in the event, O’Connor will have her eyes on a podium placing. Although she will have to make up a deficit of 13 seconds to catch third ranked Adia Budd (Germany). Germany’s other athlete Jolanda Kallabis (ranked number 4 in Europe) has opted for the 1,500m. The first round of the steeplechase is scheduled for 12.10pm on Friday 18th July with the final on Saturday 19th at 7.20pm.
Eimer Maher may be the dark horse
O’Connor will also take part in the 5,000m where her time of 15:49.65 ranks her 11th out of 30 entrants. For the Tullamore athlete, recovery is going to play a vital role in her quest. With a steeplechase qualifier and hopefully a final, she will already have two hard races in her legs by the time she toes the startline on Sunday 20th at 4.35pm. Joining her with an equally tough task will be Anika Thompson (Leevale). Thompson is ranked 6th with her time of 15:31.93 from her indoor race last December. She will run the 5,000m just two days after a 10,000m, a race where she is also ranked in 6th place. Thompson could vie for a podium place as her personal best is the third fastest of the starters. Heather Murphy (St Michaels AC) will make her international track debut as she joins Thompson in the 10,000m. The Laois athlete is ranked 10th of the 22 starters with a season’s best of 33:45.36.
The 1,500m is always an event that attracts even the non-hallowed spectator. In the last edition of the European u23 Championships Sophie O’Sullivan outsprinted Sarah Healy to give Ireland a 1,2 finish. Ireland continues to have a strong presence in this event with Eimear Maher (DSD) ranked 5th based on her 4:08.67 that she achieved last Friday at the Morton Games. The DSD star who is making her international track debut is joined by Cara Laverty (Finn Valley). Laverty has made vast improvements during her time at Providence and will be aiming to qualify for the final on Sunday evening. The ladies 1,500m in particular is expected to be an exciting one with the times for the top six ranked athletes within close range. Britons, Ava Lloyd and Mena Scatcard are ranked 2nd and 3rd on times among European U23s this year, but the battle for medals will be a fierce one with likes of Germany's Jolanda Kallabis (#4) and France's Adele Gay (#1) all seeking a podium finish. Kallabis is favouring the 1,500m over her steeplechase, which speaks volumes. Eimear Maher may be below the radar for all but the most erudite of athletics followers. With less pressure, this may prove to be to the DSD athlete’s advantage.
Henriette Jaeger to delight the home audience
Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale) is our highest ranked sprinter at number 11 out of 30 athletes in the 100m. The Florida State based athlete will be hoping to qualify from the first round. Great Britian have the top three ranked athletes and are expected to dominate this event. However, their chances of taking a clean sweep of the podium places are now somewhat diminished with the rumour that Renee Regis has opted to take part in the Diamond League in London.
Staying with sprints, Ireland is sending three relay teams; the ladies 4x400m and the men’s 4x400m and 4x100m. Both the 400m teams are expected to make their respective finals.
One race that should bring plenty of excitement to the home crowd is the ladies 400m. Norwegian Henriette Jaeger was a surprise finalist at the Olympics in Paris. Jaeger is the only athlete on the start list that has run a sub 50 second 400m, having finished 8th at the Bislett Games in June. She will be challenged by Great Britian’s Yemi-Mary John, a dual both athletes have come to expect each time they race each other. It will be a busy championship for Jaeger, who is listed for the 200m and the 400m along with being part of Norway’s 4x400m relay.
Who else should I look out for?
Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos, barring some anomalous occurrence is certain of a gold medal in the javelin. The Serbian is twice world U20 gold medallist and twice European Athletics Championships silver medallist (Munich 2022, Rome 2024) and is still only 20 years old. Her 67.22m, gives her a number 2 ranking in the world this year. She ranked number 1 for the European u23s, over 7 meters ahead of her nearest rival.
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro may have taken a tumble that cost her a gold medal at this years European Indoors. The twice European U20 champion at 800m (Tallinn 2021 and Jerusalem 2023), has transitioned nicely to senior level. She toes the startline ranked as world number 3, with a time of 1:57.25.
In the absence of Laros, his fellow countryman Steffan Nillessen is favourite to win the men’s 1,500m. The Dutchman will have a double French challenge in the form of Anas Lagtiy Chaoudar and Paul Anselmini who have produced some good form in the past month. Dutchman Jonas Phijffers is ranked number 1 in the 400m. Is it possible that the Dutch can sweep the top spot on the podium from 400m to 5,000m?
Some interesting facts
There are 10 medallists from the 2025 European Athletics Indoor In Apeldoorn competing in Bergen.
- Maksymilian Szwed (POL) – men’s 400m, silver
- Matteo Sioli (ITA) – men’s high jump, bronze
- Bozhidar Saraboyukov (BUL) – men’s long jump, gold
- Henriette Jæger (NOR) – women’s 400m, silver
- Angelina Topić (SRB) – women’s high jump, silver
- Engla Nilsson (SWE) – women’s high jump, bronze
- Saga Vanninen (FIN) – women’s pentathlon, gold
- Isaya Klein Ikkink (NED) – men’s 4x400m, gold
- Markel Fernandez (ESP) – men’s 4x400m, silver
- Emily Newnham (GBR) – women’s 4x400m, silver; mixed 4x400m, bronze
There are nine defending champions from the 2023 European U23 Championships at Espoo seeking to defend their titles at Bergen 2025:
- Blessing Afrifah (ISR) - men’s 200m
- Stefan Nillessen (NED) – men’s 1500m
- Ismail Nezir (TUR) – men’s 400m hurdles
- Ali Eren Unlu (TUR) – men’s high jump
- Juho Alasaari (FIN) – men’s pole vault
- Tizian Lauria (GER) – men’s shot put
- Artur Felfner (UKR) – men’s javelin
- Yemi Mary John (GBR) – women’s 400m
- Saga Vanninen (FIN) – women’s heptathlon
Irish Team competing in Bergen
