News

Athletics Ireland have named a 46-strong team for the European Athletics Team Championships 2^nd Division, which take place in Maribor, Slovenia on June 28^th and 29^th.

The European Athletics Team Championships sees Ireland come up against 15 other countries, who each field an athlete in every event. The top three teams will be promoted to Division 1, while the bottom three teams will be relegated to Division 3.

Ten Olympians are included in the Irish team, who will be looking for a strong showing following their promotion from Division 3 at these championships, which were part of the European Games in Krakow, in 2023.

On the track two years ago, Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) stormed to victory in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, earning maximum points for Ireland. The Limerick native ultimately won European Games bronze. Having made the Olympic semi-final in Paris last year and finished fourth in the 60m Hurdles earlier this year at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, Lavin will have her eyes set on claiming victory again.

Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) will be in action over one lap in the 400m. Both impressed at the recent World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, where Ireland qualified a mixed and women’s 4x400m team for September’s World Athletics Championships.

At this event two years ago Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) made her Irish senior international debut. Since then, she has gone onto win a European U23 title over 1500m as well as competing at the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games. She steps down in distance this time round and will race in the Women’s 800m.

Irish 5000m record holder Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) will also take his place on the start line in Maribor, looking for a strong performance as his season builds.

Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers), Arlene Crossan (Finn Valley AC), Ciaran Carthy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Callum Baird (Ballymena and Antrim AC) join Sophie Becker and Cillín Greene in being selected for the Mixed 4×400 Relay which will be the final event of the weekend.

In the field, Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) is selected for the Women’s Hammer Throw. The Paris Olympian has been in excellent early season form, extending her Irish U23 record for the event to 71.71m in Finland yesterday.

Fellow Olympian Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock AC) will be looking to impress in the Men’s Shot Put. Favors is the Irish record holder for the event, with a lifetime best of 20.93 metres achieved last year.

The other nations competing in the 2^nd Division are Denmark, Croatia, Slovenia, Israel, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Norway, Bulgaria, Estonia, Cyprus, Turkey, Latvia, Slovakia and Serbia.

Commenting on the announcement of the team, Paul McNamara, Athletics Ireland High Performance Director said, “We are delighted to be fielding such a strong team for the 2025 edition of the European Athletics Team Championships. This is a very special event, as any athlete that has had the privilege to compete in it knows. The team element brings out the best in our athletes and finishing high up the table is a priority for all.

“We see this event as a critical indicator of our standing amongst European nations, an opportunity to acquire World Ranking points and qualification standards, and to provide valuable international exposure to established and emerging athletes as preparation for upcoming major championships.”

Team Selection:

European Athletics Team Championships official website can be found HERE.