Irish team for Indoor Championships named

Athletics Ireland has announced a 12-strong team to compete at the European Indoor Track and Field Championships in Turin, Italy next month.

The team is dominated by female athletes with Olympic semi-finalist Paul Hession the only male athlete selected on the team so far.

Other athletes, including double European Indoor Champion David Gillick, may be added to the team ahead of the 1 March cut-off point.

Derval O'Rourke, who is returning to form, is selected to run in the 60m Hurdles after she ran a season's best 8.12 at the Woodie’s DIY National Indoor Championships last weekend in Belfast.

Marian Andrews and Brona Furlong will compete the 400m in Italy. They will be joined by Gemma Hynes, Claire Bergin and Christine McMahon for the 4 x 400m Relay.

Deirdre Byrne also secured her place on the team as she shaved over seven seconds off her personal best in the 3000m as she won in Belfast with a time of 9.04.74.

Byrne will be joined in Italy by club mate Roisin McGettigan who set a new Irish Mile indoor record in Boston last weekend and she will race in the 1500m.

Ireland team to compete at the European Indoor Championship, starting on 6 March in Turin:

60m Paul Hession (Athenry AC)
400m Marian Andrews (Togher AC)
400m Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC)
1500m Roisin McGettigan (Sli Chulainn AC)
3000m Deirdre Byrne (Sli Chulainn AC)
3000m Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC)
60m H Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC)
High Jump Deirdre Ryan (UCD AC)
Long Jump Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC)
4x400m Relay Marian Andrews (Togher AC), Bronagh Furlong (Slaney Olympic AC), Gemma Hynes (Galway City Harriers AC), Claire Bergin (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim AC)