by Perri Williams
As far as major championships are concerned, we are on a roller coaster of success. On the back of 5 medals at the u23 European Championships in Bergen last week, our u18s produced 4 medals in the European Youth Olympics in Skopje this week.
If you did miss out or just want to revel in a little bit of self-indulgent glory, here is a recap of Team Ireland’s athletic performances. We have made things easy for you too – just skip the narrative and scroll down to the listed summary at the end.
The four medals came from Joe Burke (Templemore AC) who produced a stunning run in the final to claim a new National u18 record, which of course is a personal best. Joe’s bronze medal is on the back of his European u18 medal from 2024. His improvement from 2024 being almost half a second. With a change of event could Joe be Ireland's next one lap sensation?
Erin Friel (Templemore AC) blasted on the scene at the National Indoors earlier this year. She is a name that has been on everyone’s lips with personal bests over distances ranging from 100m to 400m. Her bronze medal in the final of the 400m was no surprise. Plus claimed a personal best in the process. For now, its not a question of can she do a sub 54 second 400m – it’s when will she do it. Friel will still be u18 next year. Europe watch out.
Ben Sykes (Orangegrove AC) took bronze in the 100m. The Northern athlete has been showing consistent signs of improvement and recorded a new personal best in the Semi-final. 7th in last year’s u18 European 100m final, he has come to form for Skopje. The Irish sprinting world has once more been awakened.
Ellis McHugh (Ferrybank AC) was the complete unknown until she dipped under 60 seconds for the 400m hurdles in June of this year. Since that moment, she has taken her time down to a brilliant 59.23. Her bronze medal may have come as a surprise to most but not to those that are within her athletics training circles. There is so much more to come from Ellis. Watch this space.
A winter injury did not do Thomas Williams any favours, the 2024 u18 European Hammer champion could have done with some more month of training. In saying that he produced a season’s best of 73.09m to take 4th place in the hammer. And not too far off bronze either. We can’t wait to see what he can do u20 next year.
Matthew Newell (Tuam AC) finished 4th but just did not quite meet the standards he was capable of. The future is very bright for this talented athlete. No doubt his coaching team has already analyzed his performance and will be on track for the u20 world championships next year.
Or girls medley relay team of Destiny Lawal, Molly Daly, Ellis McHugh and Erin Friel ran two seconds faster in the final to take 4th place with a new national record. You cannot ask for more than that. Each competing in their own best distances, they have promising individual careers and are welcome additions to future relay teams.
Emma Hickey (United Striders), Conor Penney (Craughwell) both made it a top 6 performance. For Hickey who has always been an excellent athlete, picking up medals at Cross-country through her juvenile years – 2025 has been a revelation for her. Beating Freya Renton in the Schools All-Ireland grabbed her some added attention. Her 5th place in Skopje will not go unnoticed and she is eligible for the European u18s next year. Penney has a huge following. Affable and talented with his signature mop of red curly hair, he is gaining confidence on the international circuit. His recent good form and 2.08m at the recent u20 championships sees the Craughwell athlete getting closer to his personal best of 2.09m. In Skopje he was close to 2:07m and there is nothing other than a close call at that height to suggest he could not have gone further. That is how high jump works. One thing for sure we will be hearing about Conor Penney for some time to come.
All of the other athletes that took part have a future in athletics and can build upon their performances this year. With their toes wet in international competition at European level, they have the experience now to continue their journey in an upward trajectory. We here at Run Republic cannot wait to start our next report on them. Their names are etched in our books already.
🥉Joe Burke (Templemore AC) ¦ 200m ¦ 3rd Final ¦ 21. 22 ¦ National Record
🥉Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) ¦ 400m ¦ 3rd Final ¦ 54.02 ¦ Personal Best
🥉Ben Sykes (Orangegrove AC) ¦100m ¦ 3rd Final ¦ 10.57 seconds ¦ Personal Best of 10:56 in the Semi-final
🥉 Ellis McHugh (Ferrybank AC) ¦ 400m Hurdles ¦ 3rd Final ¦ 59.25
❹ Thomas Williams (Shercock AC) ¦ Hammer ¦ 4th Final ¦ 73.09m ¦ Seasons Best
❹ Matthew Newell (Tuam AC) ¦ 5,000m walk ¦ 4th Final ¦ 21:04.19
❹ Destiny Lawal, Molly Daly, Ellis McHugh, Erin Friel ¦ Girls Medley Relay ¦ 4th Final ¦ 2:07.06 ¦ National Record
❺ Emma Hickey (United Striders AC) ¦ 3,000m ¦ 5th Final ¦ 9:38.17
❻ Connor Penney (Craughwell AC) ¦ High Jump ¦ 6th Final ¦ 2.04m
❽ Lorcan Forde-Dunne (Ace AC) ¦ 1500m ¦ 8th final ¦3.58.95
❾ Molly Daly (Kilkenny City Harriers) ¦ 200m ¦ 5th Semi Final ¦ 24.22
❶❹ Lucie Cawley (Sligo AC) ¦ 2000m Steeplechase heats ¦ 6th heat ¦ 7:02.97
❶❻ Issac Vickers (Farranfore Maine AC) ¦ 800m ¦ 6th heats ¦ 1:56.14
Destiny Lawal (Dooneen AC) ¦ 100m heats ¦ false start (barely)