Athletics Ireland will send a squad of 23 to the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, with Ciara Mageean, Mark English, Thomas Barr, Sarah Lavin and Rhasidat Adeleke spearheading the Irish challenge in the Hungarian capital from 19-27 August.
There is the potential for further additions to the squad in the coming days in what will be the largest team that Ireland has sent to the Worlds.
Ciara Mageean will head to Budapest full of confidence having smashed Sonia O'Sullivan’s long-standing national mile record last month with an incredible 4.14.58.
Mageean will be joined in the 1500m by European under-23 medallists Sophie O’Sullivan and Sarah Healy.
Mark English returns to the 800m and will be joined by the in-form and newly crowned national 800m champion John Fitzsimons (Kildare AC), while Thomas Barr returns to the 400m hurdles having looked very sharp in the Nationals last weekend.
Rhasidat Adeleke takes to her second World Championships having broken her own Irish 400m with a 49.20 in June to claim gold at the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Irish sprinter ever to win an NCAA title.
Much expectation has been put on the shoulders of the 20-year-old Tallaght sprinter, and while her appearance at Oregon 2022 is sure to stand to her at this year’s championships, the women’s 400m looks one of the hottest events in world athletics at present.
Adeleke will be joined in the 400m by Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) who has moved to another level this season, ranking fourth on the Irish all-time list thanks to her 51.34 in June. The Tipperary star also looks set to play a leading role in the relays.
Sarah Lavin is also no stranger to World Championship finals having made the World Indoor 60m hurdles final in Belgrade last year before following that milestone up with a European Games bronze medal in Poland earlier this summer. The Emerald AC athlete recently clocked 12.74 at the Diamond League in Monaco.
The Irish relay teams have reached finals in global competition over the past two years, and the women’s 4x400m team looks particularly strong with Rhasidat Adeleke, Sophie Becker, Sharlene Mawdsley, Cliodhna Manning, Roisin Harrison and Kelly McGrory all selected.
Sligo’s Christopher O’Donnell will head a mixed 4x400m relay squad which has a blend of youth and experience as they go in search of back-to-back world finals. O’Donnell may also yet receive a quota spot in the individual 400m.
Andrew Coscoran broke his own Irish 1500m record at the Silesia Diamond League meeting earlier this season, finishing fourth in 3.30.42. The Balbriggan athlete will have sights firmly set on making the final in the event
Luke McCann also goes in the 1500m and boasts a personal best of 3:34.76 from indoors. Ireland could have a third entry in the men’s 1500m should Nick Griggs be re-allocated a quota spot in the coming days.
Olympians Louise Shanahan, David Kenny, and Brendan Boyce also return to global competition, as will recent Irish 5,000m record-breaker Brian Fay. The Dubliner produced the race of his life to finish second in a top-quality field last month, crossing the line in a time of 13.01.40 to break the record of Alistair Cragg which had stood since September 2011.
Irish throws will also be represented in Budapest with Irish shot put record-holder Eric Favors primed to bring his consistent run of form into his second World Championships.
Irish team
Rhasidat Adeleke - 400m, 4x400m relay
Sharlene Mawdsley - 400m, 4x400m relay, mixed 400m relay
Louise Shanahan - 800m
Ciara Mageean - 1500m
Sophie O'Sullivan - 1500m
Sarah Healy - 1500m
Sarah Lavin - 100m hurdles
Sophie Becker - mixed 400m relay, 4x400m relay
Roisin Harrison - mixed 400m relay, 4x400m relay
Cliodhna Manning - 4x400m relay
Kelly McGrory - 4x400m relay
John Fitzsimons - 800m
Mark English - 800m
Andrew Coscoran - 1500m
Luke McCann - 1500m
Brian Fay - 5000m
Thomas Barr - 400m hurdles
David Kenny - 20km walk
Brendan Boyce - 35km walk
Eric Favors - shot put
Chris O'Donnell - 4x440m relay
Jack Raftery - 4x400m relay
Callum Baird - 4x400m relay
The following athletes are provisionally selected should they be re-allocated a quota place by World Athletics, as they have achieved a B standard, but are not currently within quota. Similarly, if any athlete on a relay team is re-allocated a quota place by World Athletics they will be selected.
Kate O'Connor - Heptathlon
Nick Griggs - 1500m
Michelle Finn - 3000m steeplechase
