World Indoor Championships Team Return

Ireland’s athletics stars returned to Dublin this morning following their busy weekend at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia (March 18th – 20th). The athletes and support staff were greeted in Dublin Airport by Athletics Ireland President John Cronin who congratulated them on their performances.

The returning team included World Indoor 60m hurdles finalist Sarah Lavin, who became the first Irish athlete in 12 years to compete in a World Indoor Championship final.  Lavin produced a remarkable series of championship performances across the course of the weekend, posting a 8.03PB in the heats, before improving on the time with a 7.97PB to secure a place in a World Final. Lavin would ultimately finish 7th overall has already set her sights on her next target; “I want a major medal and for that to happen you have to be in a global final first. It’s my first global final as a senior athlete, I’m proud.” 

Also arriving back in Dublin Airport this morning were members of the relay teams who claimed new National Indoor 4x400m Relay Records.

Cillin Greene (Galway City Harriers AC), Cathal Crosbie (Ennis Track AC), Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) and Chris O’Donnell (Galway City Harriers AC) performed superbly to clock 3:08.63 which missed out on the final by 0.33 of a second. 

The Women’s 4x400m team of Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) and Phil Healy (Bandon AC) also claimed a National Indoor Record, crossing in 3:30.97 and also just missing out the by 6 hundredths of a second.

The relay performances support the great work being done by coaches, athletes, and the high-performance team in building on recent Olympic and World Relay Championship Final qualifications.