Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Griggs completed a remarkable day at the European Athletics U20 Championships as Ireland delivered three gold medals.
Griggs produced a superb run to kick away from the field and claim the 3000m title - a feat that lifted Ireland to the top of the medal table.
Earlier Rhasidat Adeleke secured a personal double gold as she breezed to victory in the 200m final.
On Friday the Tallaght AC sprint star scorched to a brilliant 100m gold, devouring the ground with her long stride to clock a winning time of 11.34.
Adeleke, 18, followed in the footsteps of her compatriot Gina Akpe-Moses, who won gold in the 100m at the same event in 2017. But she elevated herself to new territory in Tallinn today as she claimed a second gold in two days in a new Irish record of 22.90.
Six races in three days? No problem for @rhasidatadeleke! 👌
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 17, 2021
Adeleke becomes the first athlete since Jodie Williams a decade ago to win a 100/200m double at the European U20 Championships! 🥇🥇#Tallinn2021 pic.twitter.com/6nZrVyPKF4
Cian McPhillips kept the golds coming in the Estonian capital in the 1500m. The 19-year-old Longford AC athlete, who finished fourth in his semi-final in the 800m at the European Indoor Championships in Torun in March, crossed the line first in the 1500m in a time of 3:46:55.
💥GOLD for Cian McPhillips (Longford AC) in the 1500m!!!🇮🇪🤩
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 17, 2021
WOW!!!
⏱️3:46.55#Tallinn2021 #WhatADay pic.twitter.com/8nf2ShKe09
And then came Griggs, the Mid-Ulster AC man who belied his tender years to deliver a brilliant display and put the cherry on top of a truly memorable day for Irish athletics.
It's Ireland day on the track! 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 17, 2021
Propelled by a 54 second last lap, Cian McPhillips wins the European U20 1500m title in Tallinn! 🌪#Tallinn2021 pic.twitter.com/C8F53ZSCM9
