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‘Stade de Tullamore’ is set to welcome the rising stars of Irish athletics on Saturday as they take to competition at the 123.ie U20 and U23 National Championships (Aug 3rd).
Among those entered this weekend include recent European U18 medallists Thomas Williams (Hammer), Cian Crampton (Discus), Joe Burke (200m), Conor Kelly (400m), and Seamus Clarke (5000mW).
The U23s look set to be headlined by Tallaght AC’s Israel Olatunde who will be a red-hot favourite if taking to the blocks of the 100m on the back of claiming his fourth national senior title in a row back in June.
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) will be another of the star names in action this weekend with the Tipperary athlete set to double up in the U23 100m and 200m. Bergin enjoyed a superb start to her 2024 season, already securing the U23 60m and 200m indoor titles.
The U20 men’s and women’s 400m races could well be the events of the weekend, with places on the mixed 4×400 team at the World U20 Championship in Lima at stake (Aug 27 – 31).
Further spice has been added to Saturday’s proceedings with the U20 Championships also being used as selection for the upcoming European Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) U20 Club event in Portugal which takes place on 21st and 22nd September 2024.
Ratoath and DSD look strong contenders for DNA selection, but with over 500 athletes set to battle it out over the almost nine-hour schedule, many could yet come into contention.
The walks finals get Saturday’s action underway with the women’s 3000m walk at 10am set to precede the men’s 5000m walk at 10.30am.
The 400mH finals are set for 10.50am with national senior champion Jennifer Sawyer (St. L. O’Toole AC) among the entries.
Adam Nolan looks the star turn in the short hurdles with the St Laurence O’Toole athlete sure to have unfinished business on his mind when taking to the blocks from 4.30pm.
The heats of the 100m will follow with the finals set for a 1.10pm start later in the afternoon.
Israel Olatunde (Tallaght AC) is the headline entry, with Nkemjika Onwumereh (M Metro/St. Brigids AC) a likely challenger for the podium places on the back of his indoor title.
The women’s 100m could be a somewhat tighter affair with Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) sure to be challenged by Aisling Kelly (UCD AC) and Adeyemi Talabi (Longford AC) if all making it through to the final.
Finn Woodger (Metro/St. Brigids AC) should go well in the men’s 800m, while the women’s 400m could come down to a dual between Lauren McCourt (Bandon AC) and Caoimhe Cronin (Le Chéile AC).
Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC) looks a strong medal contender in the 1500m, while the men’s 1500m will likely see Colin Smith (Mullingar Harriers AC) and Gavin Kenny (Bandon AC) try to lower the flag of Cathal O’Reilly (Kilkenny City Harriers AC).
The men’s 200m looks hard to call with Darragh Murphy (Limerick AC) one who could be in the shake up, while the women’s could see Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) look to double up once more.
The field events will have no shortage of compelling competition.
Jordan Knight (St. Joseph’s AC) and Laura Frawley (Nenagh Olympic AC) look leading contenders for medals in the long jump, while Ciara Sheehy (Emerald AC) should stamp her class on the women’s shot following a host of superb performances this season.
Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) is sure to be to the fore in the women’s 3000m walk final from 10am, while European U18 silver medallist Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley AC) is entered in the men’s 5000m walk alongside the talented Andrew Glennon (Mullingar Harriers).
Alex Cullen (Kilkenny City Harriers) should go well in the U20 long hurdles which are set for a 11.05am start.
The Leevale pair of Sean Carmody and Okwu Backari will be hard to topple in the short hurdle finals later in the afternoon. Carmody missed the World U20 standard by the tiniest of margins and will be looking to chase it down in the 110mh once more.
Okwu Backari also just missed the standard earlier in the season and will too be hoping to go quick over the 100mh on Saturday.
There should be plenty of fireworks in the men’s 100m with Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght) out to try and repeat his superb performance at seniors last month. The Tallaght athlete is sure to be challenged by European U18 100m finalist Ben Sykes (Orangegrove AC), as well as Jamie Moffatt (North Down AC) and Jesse Osas (Ratoath AC).
Osas should also return later in the day for the 200m where he’ll be joined by European U18 medallist Joe Burke (Templemore AC) who hopes to have recovered from his Slovakian exertions.
The women’s 100m should be just as exciting with Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) coming into the weekend having gone very close to the World U20 standard recently.
Leila Colfer (St. L. O’Toole AC), Hannah Falvey (Belgooly AC), Katie Doherty (Ratoath AC), and Fatima Amusan (Leevale AC) could all have a say in the final, with several also holding entries in the 200m.
The men’s 3000m SC may not be huge in terms of quantity, but not short in quality with UCD’s Jonas Stafford going in search of the World U20 standard on a track which he tends to thrive on.
The men’s 800m looks open on paper with Jack Kelly (Tallaght AC) and the Cork pair of Senan O’Reilly (St. Catherines AC) and Odhrán O’Sullivan (Midleton AC) sure to fancy their chances.
The women’s 800m looks wide open with Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers AC) set to drop to the 400m this weekend. Zoie Richie (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. AC) could very well be the one to look out for coming into the home straight.
The men’s and women’s 400m could be the races of the weekend with the finals set for a 5.00pm start. Many athletes will have eyes on making the World U20 mixed 4×400 relay team, with some of the top 800m runners dropping down to race over 400m.
The men’s race looks stacked with Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club), Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) and the Mannions, David and Stephen (South Galway AC), just to name a few.
The women’s race looks just as competitive with Niamh Murray (Bray Runners AC), Camille Madden (Kilcoole AC), and the aforementioned Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers AC) all entered.
Lughaidh Mallon (Lagan Valley) posted a 3:43 last week and will be one of the favourites for the 1500m alongside Cian Gorham (St. Peter’s AC), Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers AC), and Harry Colbert (Waterford AC).
The women’s 1500m could be dictated by Lucy and Kirsti Foster (Willowfield Harriers), while Aimee Wallace (Mullingar Harriers) is sure to be right there on the kick for home.
Star attraction in the field events will undoubtedly be European U18 hammer throw champion Thomas Williams (Shercock AC) who claimed that superb gold medal in Slovakia just two weeks ago. Williams will throw the heavier hammer this weekend as he looks to sign off an outstanding 2024 championship season.
Fellow European medallist, Cian Crampton (Edenderry AC), will also be back in action in the discus. Crampton too will have the heavier disc to contend with, but the Edenderry athlete is another who seems to thrive in championship competition.
Michael Kent (DMP AC) looks set for another busy day in the long jump and pole vault, while Andrew Cooper (Gowran AC) looks set to go in the shot even though he has been suffering with a hand injury in recent weeks.
The vertical jumps are not to be missed with European U18 finalists Conor Penney (Craughwell AC) and Siun Quinn (Brothers Pearse AC) returning to action. Quinn will face a tough battle for the women’s title with Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic AC) and Enya Silkena (Ratoath AC) also entered.
Oisin Joyce (Lake District AC) headlines the javelin competition with Joyce hoping to be selected for the World U20s having achieved the standard which see’s him ranked sixth in the world at the age category.
The 4x100m and 4x400m relays will sign off the 123.ie National Junior and U23 Championships for 2024 with the opening relay races set for a 6.05pm start. The races are sure to provide their customary end of day drama as action comes to a close.
Live Results can be found HERE
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