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Kate O'Connor takes the athlete of the year award

It was a memorable year for Kate O'Connor
It was a memorable year for Kate O'Connor

Kate O'Connor has been crowned Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics awards.

O’Connor enjoyed a remarkable season, winning heptathlon silver at the World Championships in Tokyo, gold at the World University Games, and medals at both the World and European Indoor Championships.

She twice broke her own national heptathlon and pentathlon records, finishing the year as the top-ranked European and number two in the world.

O’Connor also collected the Field & Multi-event Athlete of the Year award, fending off competition from Diarmuid O’Connor, Niamh Fogarty, Eric Favors and Reece Ademola.

Fionnuala McCormack was named Endurance Athlete of the Year following another stellar year that included a top-10 finish in the marathon at the World Championships in Tokyo, and a personal best of 2:23:46 in Valencia, just 23 seconds off the Irish record.

Athlete of the Year Kate O'Connor, centre, with her parents Michael and Valerie during the 123.ie National Athletics Awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin. A full list of winners from the event can be found at AthleticsIreland.ie
Kate O'Connor poses with her parents Michael and Valerie

Conor Kelly was awarded Under 20 Athlete of the Year after a season highlighted by gold in the 400m at the European U20 Championships, three national Under-20 400m records, and selection for multiple Irish relay teams at senior championships.

Nicola Tuthill was named Under-23 Athlete of the Year, following a season that included silver at both the World University Games and European Under-23 Championships, gold at the European Throwing Cup (Under-23), and twice breaking the national nder-hammer throw record.

Cian McPhillips was crowned Track Athlete of the Year after a historic season that saw him finish fourth in the 800m at the World Championships in Tokyo, set new Irish records in both the semi-final and final, and become the first Irish man to run under 1:43 for 800m.

The Men’s 4x100m relay team of Michael Farrelly, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler, Israel Olatunde, and Bori Akinola took home the Team of the Year Award after breaking the national record twice in one week, including a 38.88 clocking at the European Team Championships.

Derval O’Rourke (below) was a hugely popular inductee into the Irish Athletics Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame Award recipient Derval O'Rourke pictured with her award during the 123.ie National Athletics Awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin. A full list of winners from the event can be found at AthleticsIreland.ie.


National Athletics Award Winners 2025

Hall of Fame: Derval O'Rourke
Athlete of the Year: Kate O’Connor
Lifetime Services to Athletics: Cyril Smyth
Endurance Athlete of the Year: Fionnuala McCormack
Under 20 Athlete of the Year: Conor Kelly
Under 23 Athlete of the Year: Nicola Tuthill
Track Athlete of the Year: Cian McPhillips
Field & Multi Event Athlete of the Year: Kate O’Connor
Team of the Year: Men’s 4x100m Relay (Michael Farrelly, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler, Israel Olatunde, Bori Akinola)
Inspirational Performance on Irish Soil: Cian McPhillips (Morton Games)
Special Recognition Award: Dick Hooper
Performance Club of the Year: Dundrum South Dublin AC
Services to Coaching: Joe Doonan
Official of the Year: Declan Curtin
Development Club of the Year: Moy Valley AC
Mountain Runner of the Year: Brian Mullins
Masters Athlete of the Year: Edel Maguire
Ultra Runner of the Year: Caitriona Jennings
Schools’ Athlete of the Year: Sean Doggett
University Athlete of the Year: Laura Frawley

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