Three Irish athletes are on the start list for the Paavo Nurmi Games, taking place this evening in Turku, Finland. The event will be familiar to many Irish athletics fans, it was here last year that Cathal Doyle and Luke McCann achieved 1–2 finish in the men’s 1500 m, while Mark English claimed second in the 800 m and broke the Irish national record in the process, one of several times he’s rewritten that mark in the last year.
This evening, Cathal Doyle is set to return to Turku for another crack at the 1500 m, this time joined by 1500m national record holder Andrew Coscoran, setting up a fascinating Irish head-to-head. Also in action is Sarah Lavin, who lines up in the women’s 100 m hurdles. Here is are the times (Irish time) they are in action:
Irish Athletes in Action Tonight
⏰ 5:39 PM – 🏃♀️ Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) – Women’s 100m Hurdles Heat
⏰ 6:42 PM – 🏃♀️ Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) – Women’s 100m Hurdles Final (Subject to Qualification)
Sarah Lavin will be the first Irish athlete in action this evening, lining up in the opening heat of the women’s 100 m hurdles, her speciality event. She’ll have her sights set on progressing to the final later on, but it won’t be an easy path. Among those in her heat are Pia Skrzyszkowska, the Polish athlete who took gold at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, and seasoned American Alaysha Johnson, both of whom bring serious pedigree to the starting blocks.
⏰ 6:18 PM – 🏃♂️ Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) – Men’s 1,500m
⏰ 6:18 PM – 🏃♂️ Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) – Men’s 1,500m
Assuming both Irish men compete, the men’s 1500 m will see a fascinating head-to-head between reigning 1500 m national champion Cathal Doyle and 1500m national record holder Andrew Coscoran. Doyle has been in strong form as of late, knocking a full second off his personal best at the Diamond League in Rome with a time of 3:32.15, securing qualification for the World Championships in Tokyo this September. Coscoran, meanwhile, made headlines recently with a win over Grant Fisher and George Mills in the 3000 m at the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami at the start of May. Tonight marks his first outing over 1500 m outdoors this season (Coscoran is also already qualified for the 1500m event in Tokyo), setting the stage for an intriguing clash between Ireland’s top two milers. Can Doyle win the event again this year?
They won’t have it easy, though, with a strong and seasoned field lining up alongside them. Among the entries is Kenya’s Brian Komen, a member of the exclusive sub-3:30 club with a personal best of 3:28.80. This will be his third outing over 1500 m this season, having already featured in both the Rabat and Oslo Diamond Leagues, so he arrives with sharp race legs and good match practice. Also in the mix is Narve Gilje Nordås, the 2023 World Championship bronze medallist from Budapest, who ran in Stockholm just last Sunday as part of his build-up. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating contest.
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Image: Perri Williams