2020 Tokyo Olympics July 30th – Preview

The first of the Irish athletics squad will take to the track in the early hours of Friday morning at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.  

The athletics events take place from Friday, July 30th - Sunday, August 8th, with events in both Sapporo Odori Park and the Olympic Stadium.

The Irish Women’s 800m division has been on fire over the last two years and Nadia Power (Dublin City Harriers AC) will be first of the 800m trio to make her Olympic debut.

Power will be looking to challenge her PB of 2:01.01 as she takes to the track in Heat 2 at 2.33am on Friday (July 30th). Heat 2 contains the 2nd and 3rd ranked athletes in Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) and Natoya Goule (JAM) with the first 3(Q) form each heat and next 6 fastest(q) advancing to semi-finals.

Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) will be next to make her Olympic debut in Heat 3 at 02.41am. Shanahan will be another looking to carry her national championship momentum into this morning’s heat as she looks to challenge her PB of 2.01.44 which was set back in May. Such is the nature of an Olympic Games; Shanahan’s heat is another stacked field with 5 sub-2-minute athletes in the line-up.

Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Dundrum South Dublin AC) is the final of the 800m trio to take to the track with her Heat(4) set for 02.49am. The Irish 800m indoor record holder will be looking to benefit for the likely strong pace in a field that includes the 1.57.51 GB athlete Keely Hodgkinson.

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC), who finished in 4th place at the Olympics in Rio will be back mixing it with the best 400m Hurdlers in the world as he kicks off his second Olympic Games in Heat 3 at 3.41am. The European bronze medallist will take his place in lane 7 where he will line up beside world record holder Karsten Warholm (NOR).  The first 4(Q) from each heat and next 4 fastest(q) advance to semi-finals.

Irish athletics involvement on Friday will be rounded off with the Mixed 4 x 400m Relay team of Cillin Greene (Galway City Harriers AC), Chris O’Donnell (North Sligo AC), Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers AC), and Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) going in Heat 1 at 12.00pm.

Ireland will start from lane 5 with likely favourites USA going from lane 3. 15 teams are vying for those coveted 8 spots in the final with the first 3(Q) from each heat and next 2 fastest(q) advancing to the final on Saturday.

Summary: Friday July 30th

• 800m Heats: Nadia Power (Heat 2 - 02.33am), Louise Shanahan (Heat 3 - 02.41am), Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Heat 4 - 02.49am) - First 3(Q) form each heat and next 6 fastest(q) advance to semi-finals.
• 400m Hurdles Heats: Thomas Barr (Heat 3 - 03.41am) - First 4(Q) from each heat and next 4 fastest(q) advance to semi-finals.
• Mixed 4 x 400m Relay: Cillin Greene, Chris O’Donnell, Phil Healy, Sophie Becker, Robert McDonnell, Cliodhna Manning (Heat 1 - 12.00pm) - First 3(Q) from each heat and next 2 fastest(q) advance to the final.

Where to watch: Click HERE

Live Results: Click HERE