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Israel Olatunde got a magical week in Munich underway breaking Paul Hession’s 100m Irish record on a historic night for Irish athletics at the European Athletics Championships in Munich. Olatunde produced the performance of his life, in the race of his life, to cross in a stunning 10.17 which broke the record which had stood since 2007. Finishing in 6th position in Europe, the result completes the remarkable rise to the top table of European sprinting for the 20-year-old.
Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke went one better the following day, finishing 5th in the 400m final in Munich. The 19-year-old, who was competing in only her 6th ever race over 400m, produced a stunning display to smash her own Irish record in a time of 50.53 in her first major final.
Running from the difficult inside lane, Adeleke powered away from the starting blocks using her 200m speed and was quickly on the shoulder of the Polish athlete in lane 2. Adeleke held her form superbly coming around the final bend and was right in contention for medals coming into the home straight. The Tallaght AC sprint star fought bravely to the line to smash yet another Irish national record.
Ciara Mageean secured a silver medal in the final of the 1500m. The City of Lisburn AC athlete produced the greatest performance of her career to claim the silver medal in a time of 4.02.56 which was her fastest 1500m this season.
This silver medal adds to the bronze medals Mageean picked up at these championships back in 2016, and the European indoors bronze medal in 2019. It also completes a remarkable month for the Portaferry athlete which also saw her claim a brilliant silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
There was a quiet confidence exuding from Mageean all this week, and her silver medal winning performance matched that confidence, with the two-time Olympian executing a superbly judged race which saw her as the only challenger to eventual winner Laura Muir (GBR).
Although the nature of the performance would suggest Mageean had gold on her mind, which is testament to the season she’s had, the silver medal marks one of the major highlights of her already illustrious career.
Ireland’s 400m relay team have secured a excellent 6th place in the final of the women’s 4x400m. The team of Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Sharlene Mawdsley crossed the finish in a time of 3:26.63, backing up yesterday’s superb national record (3.26.06) performance.
Squad members Roisin Harrison and Cliodhna Manning also played an important role in helping the team reach this milestone, and will no doubt play key roles in future championships.
Mark English produced a tactically superb 800 meters on the final day of the European Athletics Championship in Munich this evening to claim a glorious bronze medal for Ireland in a time of 1:45.19.
The Donegal athlete secure Ireland’s second medal of the week following Ciara Mageean’s superb silver in the 1500m on Friday.
English had looked in superb shape this week, but it was his tactical awareness which saw him right in the box seat coming down the home straight. In truth, her never looked like being out of the medals coming around the final bend which was testament to his race plan and coach Feidhlim Kelly.
His time would rank as the 3rd fastest Irish 800m ever and bridges an 8-year gap from his first European bronze (outdoor) medal back in 2014.
Sarah Lavin finished in 5th place in the final of the 100mH, signing off these championships in style for team Ireland with another final appearance. Lavin clocked a 12.86 in the final, having posted a 12.79PB in the semi-final only an hour previous. Her finishing time was just 0.1 away from a medal.
Efrem Gidey produced the run of his life to secure 6th place in the 10,000m final earlier in the evening. The 21-year-old crossed the finish in 27:59.22PB having been with the leading pack for much of the race.
It marks a massive milestone for the European Cross County bronze medallist (U20) from 2019 who missed much of the 2020/21 season through injury. This breakthrough performance will excite athletics fans across the country, particularly coming into another cross country season.
TEAM IRELAND RESULTS SUMMARY
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