Following the attention surrounding Rhasidat Adeleke's return to competition in the early hours of this morning and the focus later tonight on Sarah Healy in the women's mile at the Diamond League in Eugene, attention also turns to a busy day elsewhere for Irish athletics. The Irish U20 and U23 National Championships in Tullamore headline today's action alongside international meetings in Belgium, Spain, France and Scotland.
The biggest domestic focus falls on the Irish U20 and U23 Championships, where many of Ireland's most promising athletes will be chasing national titles, championship medals and, for some, further international opportunities. The U23 programme features several athletes who have already represented Ireland at senior level, including Seรกn Doggett in the 200 metres, Molly Daly, who made her senior debut at the World Relays just two months ago, and Erin Firel, who also earned her first senior international vest in Gabarone.
The U20 championships are equally packed with emerging talent. Among the standout names are Cillian Gleeson, who enjoyed a strong NCAA season with Wisconsin before returning home for the summer, and Siun Quinn, who has impressed throughout the collegiate season with Illinois. They are joined by Gemma Galvin of Providence, Heather Murphy, who competes on the NAIA circuit with Montreat, Orla Mannion, who climbed to seventh on the Irish all time list for the 100m hurdles in Belgium last weekend, and Dubem Amah, who claimed an impressive win at the Junior Bauhaus Gala in Germany a few weeks ago. With such an extensive timetable, we have placed the full schedule at the end of this guide, making it easier to find the other international meetings first.ย
Over in Belgium, several Irish internationals are in action at the Meeting voor Mon Polsstokgala. Arlene Crossan continues her encouraging season after alternating between the 400 metres and 400m hurdles. She claimed a hurdles victory in Belgium at the IFAM meeting at the end of May before adding 400 metre wins in Belfast and Spain during June, carrying solid form into another outing over the barriers.ย
In Spain, Eimear Maher returns to the 1500 metres at the X Ordizia Meeting. Maher has continued to build steadily throughout the season, producing consistent improvements and recording a season's best of 4:10.34. She also impressed with second place in the Diamond League pre programme in Oslo, not being phased by the big stage. Also competing is Jodie McCann, whose season's best of 4:09.07 leaves her around 2 seconds outside the European Championships B standard. With time running short before Birmingham, she faces a difficult task to qualify.
Scottish racing also features Irish interest at The Pursuit 5000m meeting, where Irish cross country international Emily Haggard Kearney is among the athletes in action, while a number of Irish competitors are also spread across the programme in France at the Meeting National Est Lyonnais.
Our full schedule below includes start times for all Irish athletes in action today, along with starting lists, live stream links where available, and results links.
๐ง๐ช Meeting voor Mon Polsstokgala
โฐ 1.45pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Arlene Crossan โ Women's 400m Hurdles
โฐ 4.50pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Alex O'Neill โ Women's 800m
โฐ 5.20pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Louis O'Loughlin โ Men's 1500m
โฐ 5.20pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ James Dunne โ Men's 1500m
*Selection of Irish athletes. Full list of Irish athletes competing available by searching for 'Ireland' in search bar
๐ Starting List
๐บ Watch Live
๐ Results
๐ซ๐ท Meeting National Est Lyonnais
โฐ 5.55pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Cillian Kirwan โ Men's 800m
โฐ 7.48pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Alex O'Neill โ Women's 800m
โฐ 8.35pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ James Dunne โ Men's 1500m
โฐ 8.45pm โ ๐โโ๏ธ Finley Daly โ Men's 3000m Steeplechase
