by Perri Williams
Athletics Ireland, this evening has announced the Irish teams for the forthcoming World Championships. A list of those who have achieved the A and B standards and are within the ranking systems has been published. There are still some athletes with a B standard that may eventually be included, once the final rankings will be determined, they may also be included in the selection.
Included in the team are the three marathon runners; Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers). Hiko Tonosa (DSD) and Fionnuala McCormack (Sli Culainn). Lynch is the current Irish marathon record holder and will compete in his first world championships. Tonosa the previous record holder, won the 2024 Dublin City Marathon. Five-time Olympian Fionnuala McCormack is competing in her first World Championships since Degu in 2011, where she then completed in the Steeplechase.
Mark English (Finn Valley) has had a brilliant 2025, taking bronze at the European Indoors and then lowering his own 800m Irish record several times over the last few months, to its current 1:43.37. Working with Justin Rinaldi, he is in the shape of his life and will be aiming for a place in the final. Joining him is the Joe Ryan coached Cian McPhillips (UCD) whose potential as an u20 athlete has materialized into a good senior athlete. He will compete in his first World Championships at senior level.
Sarah Healy (UCD) has had a sizzling summer, topping the table at diamond leagues and running 3:57 on a consistent basis. In March this year she won the European Indoor 3000m. Running over 1500m at the World Championships she too will be hoping for a place in the final and making an impact. Joining her in the 1500m will be the NCAA 1500m champion Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh).
Included in the selection are a number of recent World and European medalists. Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerards) fresh from her World University gold, is also in the shape of her life. With a silver in the world Indoors and bronze at the European indoors, can O’Connor add another medal to her collection?
Nicola Tuthill (Bandon AC) improved her hammer personal best to 71.71m at the national championships earlier this month. She goes to Tokyo with two major medals under belt already this year: Silver from the World University Games and silver from the European u23 Championships. She will be hoping to do enough to make the final in the hammer.
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) will have another busy schedule at a major championship. Selected for the individual 400m along with the 4x400m ladies and mixed 4x400m, there will be a juggling act should she qualify out of the heats to later rounds of the 400m. Our two relay teams previously qualified from their results at the World Relays in China earlier this summer.
Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea) has been selected for both the 1500m and the 5000m. He will be joined in the 1500m by Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers), the Irish 1500m champion. Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrocks) who was runner-up to Coscoran at the recent Irish 5000m championships is also selected for the 5000m.
There will be two race walkers representing Ireland in Tokyo. David Kenny (Farranfore-Maine) has been selected for the 20km walk with Oisin Lane (Mullingar) the 35km walk. Kenny a former u23 European silver medalists will compete in his second World Championships. It is the first for Lane.
Sarah Lavin (Emerald) has become a stable presence on Irish teams for the last number of years. Finishing fourth in this years European Indoors and showing some progression in her races this summer, she will compete in her third World Championships.
The Irish shot putt record holder Eric Favors produced a season’s best last week of 20.75m in the shot putt. He will take part in his second World Championships for Ireland.
For those who currently have a B standard who are sitting outside the quota at the moment, we will have to wait until Saturday when a re-allocation of places will be confirmed by World Athletics. Such athletes include: Darragh McIlhenny (Bantry), Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers), Alex O’Neill (Limerick Track Club), Jenna Brommel (Emerald AC), Laura Nicholson (Bandon), Nick Griggs (CNDR), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrocks) and Jack Raferty (Donore Harriers).
The team that have currently been selected is as follows:
