RISING STARS RETURN FOR JUNIOR AND U23 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The track at Tullamore Harriers Athletic Club is set to host an exciting day of athletics this Sunday as Ireland's rising athletics stars take to competition at the 123.ie National Junior/U23 Track & Field Championships (July 2nd).

Over 500 athletes will battle it out for those coveted podium places over the nine-hour schedule, with many also looking to impress in advance of the upcoming European U23 and U20 Championships which are set for Finland (July 13 – 16) and Israel (Aug 7 – 10) respectively.

Some of Sunday’s leading contenders include Ireland’s fastest man Israel Olatunde (100m), NCAA stars Jane Buckley (1500m) and Sophie O’Sullivan (800m/1500m), as well as the record-breaking quartet of Nick Griggs (1500m), Nicola Tuthill (Hammer Throw), Elizabeth Ndudi (Long Jump/ 200m), and Adam Nolan (110mH).

The in-form pair of Cian McPhillips (800m) and Ruby Millet (Long/ Triple Jump) also look set to take their places, while Leevale’s Reece Ademola will be looking to use his recent senior international experience as his bids to claim the long jump title on Sunday morning.

Action in Tullamore will get underway from 10.00am, with the full schedule streamed live on Athletics Ireland’s YouTube Channel.

• Print Friendly Timetable HERE
• Live Stream HERE
• Entries HERE
• Live Results HERE (Updated on Sunday July 2nd)
• Spectator Tickets HERE
• Athletics Ireland Selection Policies HERE

U23 PREVIEW

The first track medals of the day will be decided in the walks over 3,000m and 5,000m. Oisin Lane (Mullingar Harriers) set a 3,000m PB of 11:49.46 earlier this season and should give clubmate Matthew Glennon most to do over the extra 2,000m.  

The 400m hurdles follow, with the U23 events looking particularly hard to call this year. Two athletes to note are Alan Miley (SLOT) and Cara Murphy (DSD) who should be right in contention coming into the home straight.

The heats of the 100 and 800m events will precede the final of the women’s 3000m S/C where Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) looks a leading favourite to claim gold at her home venue on return from the US.

The men’s 3000m S/C will see Sean McGinley (Finn Valley) look to double up on the 1500m indoor title he claimed back in January (3.52.78).

The steeplechase races will be separated by the finals of the 100m at 13.05pm, where Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) and Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) look the leading contenders for gold.

Olatunde boasts a 10.35SB and has looks to be confidently building his consistency of performance as we edge closer to the heat of the summer track season.

Oliver Swinney (Speed Development Project Track AC) claimed the indoor title back in January (6.77) and his 10.36PB should see him well in contention.

The Leevale pair of Colin Doyle and Conor Morey cannot be discounted, with the same being said for Olatunde’s UCD teammate Bori Akinola.

Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) enjoyed a stunning indoor season, claiming the 60m title in 7.71 before going on to also take gold in the 200m in 25.25 and looks the one to beat in the women’s 100m.

The 1500m should be an intriguing race and is made all the more difficult to predict with a host of athletes holding multiple event entries.  

Jane Buckley (Leevale) boasts a 15.41.00 over 5000m and comes into this weekend buoyed by her 13th place in NCAA finals. Buckley’s sole entry is for the 1500m where she could be joined by distance specialists Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) and Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) who are also entered in the steeplechase and 800m respectively.

The women’s 5000m should be just as compelling, with Aoife O’Cuill (St Coacas), Laura Mooney (Tullamore), and Anika Thompson (Leevale) all entered. The men’s race will follow an hour later where Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) and Dean Casey (Ennis Track) look the standout entries.

Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) is the headline entry in the 800m following his recent 1.45.92 PB. Nathan Sheehy Cremin (Emerald AC) posted a 1.54.50 to secure honours in the 800m indoors, while Jake Bagge (Ferrybank AC) and Finn Woodger (MSB AC) will also be eying the podium.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) impressed at last week’s European Games on her first senior international appearance but will face a deep field in the women’s 800m should she line up.

Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) and Colin Doyle (Leevale) look among the leading contenders for the men’s 200m title. McDonnell has been returning from injury and only time will tell if the Tokyo Olympian takes his place in the blocks on Sunday. The ever-consistent Padraic Hassett (Nenagh Olympic) stormed to indoor gold in 21.81 back in January and will fear no one.

Race of the day could potentially be the women’s 400m with the ever-consistent Lauren McCourt (Bandon AC), Caoimhe Cronin (Le Cheile), and Miriam Daly (Carrick on Suir) all look set to take their place.

Daly (Carrick on Suir AC) produced a personal best performance of 55.76 to take the 2023 indoor title ahead of McCourt and Cronin early this year.

James Ezeonu (Leevale) looked at home in the Irish vest last week, and the Leevale athlete could have a bus schedule come Sunday afternoon. Ezeonu looks the favourite for the 110m hurdles, while he may also join teammate Reece Ademola in the long jump which is the first field event of the day.

Ademola, a World U20 long jump finalist, will be looking to better his season’s best of 7.77 as he too looks to peak with European U23 Championships on the horizon.

Fellow long jump specialist Ruby Millet (St Abbans) also returns to action following her 6.33m performance in Poland last week.

Ciara Kennelly (Killarney Valley AC) looks favourite in the high jump competition, while recent U23 record breaker Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) returns to the cage as she looks to produce yet another bold display in the Hammer.

Ciara Sheehy (Emerald AC) was the standout thrower during indoors and will look to once again go over the 14 meter mark in the Shot Put.

Conor Cusack (Lake District) has continued his progress this season and looks one of the leading favourites for gold this weekend if he can produce anything near to his season’s best of 71.21m

JUNIOR PREVIEW

Jake O’Brien (Moy Valley) and Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) will look to continue their gold medal winning form in the walks events which open the day’s proceedings, while Tir Chonaill pair of Fintan Dewhirst and Lucy McGlynn (Tir Chonaill) will look to add to their growing collection of national titles in the long hurdles.

Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale) is back from her 11.79 appearance in the 100m in Germany last week and looks to the one to beat in the 100 and 200m. Fatima Amusa (Leevale) also holds an entry in the 100m but expect to see her best over 200m.

Jesse Osas (Ratoath) seems to take championship racing in his stride and expect the Ratoath athlete to bring his best for the men’s sprint events over 100m and 200m this weekend.

Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) is entered in the 1500m and his recent 3:36.09 NU20R gives every indication that his is tracking nicely towards the upcoming European U20 Championships.

One of the races of the day could be the women’s 1500m where Rebecca Rossiter, Avril Millerick (Youghal AC), and Kirsti Foster (Willowfield Harriers) could all be vying for leading positions at the bell alongside Maebh Caffrey (St Cocas AC).

The 5000m could see a dual between Roise Roberts (North Belfast Harriers) and Louise O’Mahoney (BMOH AC) who have raced against each other on multiple occasions this season.

The women’s 400m looks to have a stacked entry with Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers), Victoria Amiadamen (Doneen), and Niamh Murray (Bray Runners) sure to have eyes on a place in the final.

Donegal pair of Hannah Murray (Finn Valley) and Lucy McGlynn (Tír Chonaill A.C) could well join them in the afternoon’s 400m medal decider.

David Mannon (South Galway AC) stamped his authority on the junior men’s 400m final indoors, but we can expect another strong showing from Joe Doody (Cabinteely AC) who was second on that occasion.

Maeve O’Neill (Doheny AC) and Jack Kelly (Tír Chonaill A.C) will look to impress once more in the 800m.

Adam Nolan (SLOT) set a new National U20 110m hurdles record with a stunning 13.70 earlier this month and another big performance can be expected.

Okwu Backari (Leevale AC) was another of the Leevale sprinters to star during the indoor season and it’s likely we’ll see her to go close in the 100m hurdles.

Elizabeth Ndudi (DSD) returns to the long jump following her 6.44 U20NR last weekend, while the talented DSD athlete also holds an entry for the 200m.

The Leevale pole vaulters continue to impress with Una Brice (Leevale AC) and Joshua Fitzgerald (Leevale) looking as though they will be difficult to topple from top spot.

Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic) consistently performs at national level and can be expected to threaten her season’s best in the high jump in what should be a great contest with Sium Quinn (Brothers Pearse).

Lifford Strabane’s Adrienne and Caoimhe Gallen are sure to go well in the shot put competition, while Athenry AC’s Liam Shaw is another exciting young thrower who will be looking to build on his indoor season.

Relay Finals

The 4x100m and 4x400mrelays will sign off the 123.ie National Junior and U23 Championships from 6.20pm. The races are sure to provide their customary end of day drama as action comes to a close.

Live Results HERE