A 25-strong Irish team have arrived in Rieti, Italy ahead of the European Athletics U18 Championships that take place from Thursday to Sunday (July 16th to 19th).<\/p>\n
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A host of highly ranked athletes feature on the team, with some gaining their first international experience for their country at a major championship event.<\/p>\n
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Leading the team out on Thursday morning will be steeplechase athletes Lucie Cawley (Sligo AC) and Ally Duffy (Tullamore Harriers). Cawley competed at last year\u2019s European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, North Macedonia and comes into these championships with the third fastest time in the field, her 6:41.13 clocking is the Irish U18 record for the 2000m steeplechase.<\/p>\n
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Emer Purtill (Dooneen AC) will have a busy two days of competition in the Heptathlon, taking part in seven events. Purtill achieved her personal best of 5206 points earlier this year.<\/p>\n
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Jack Collins (Tralee Harriers) smashed under the 1:52 barrier for 800m in Loughborough last month and will look to make an impact in the Boys 800m in his championship debut.<\/p>\n
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The opening evening session of the championships sees Irish U18 Discus Throw record holder Tara Laverty (Carrick Aces AC) step into the circle. Laverty has thrown over 46m on five occasions this year and has a best of 48.74m to her name.<\/p>\n
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Three 400m runners also take to the blocks on the opening day of competition with Ethan Carr (Ballymena and Antrim AC) racing in the Boys 400m heats, before Evelyn Kwik (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Aisling Shevlin (Ratoath AC) settle into their blocks for the heats of the Girls 400m.<\/p>\n
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The second morning session will see Isabelle Gaffney (West Waterford AC) and Tara-Rose Smith (Finn Valley AC) race over two laps in the heats of the Girls 800m. Gaffney\u2019s PB of 2:06.10 set in Belfast in May ranks her seventh of the entries in the event, with Smith also in the top ten.<\/p>\n
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Ireland\u2019s 400m Hurdles resurgence at underage level sees three athletes compete in the event at these championships. Daniel Downey (Portlaoise AC) and Arron Whelan (Dunboyne AC) will be in action in the heats of the Boys event on Friday morning, quickly followed by Elle-Kate McRae (Midleton AC) in the Girls heats, an athlete who only made her debut in the event this year.<\/p>\n
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Tiffany Nwaedozie (Belgooly AC) and Christopher Olatunde (Ratoath AC) will conclude the morning session of day two from an Irish perspective when they race in the heats of the Girls and Boys 200m respectively. Nwaedozie impressed recently to win the Senior Girls 100m and 200m at the All-Ireland Schools Championships in Tullamore.<\/p>\n
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The Friday evening session will see two more Irish major championship debutants grace the track in Rieti. Charlie O\u2019Neill (Donore Harriers) and Luke Merrigan (Leevale AC) race in the heats of the Boys 1500m, hoping to seal final spots.<\/p>\n
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Ireland\u2019s second field-event athlete at these championships Kevin O\u2019Shea (Farranfore Maine Valley AC) will be the first Irish athlete in action on day three. O\u2019Shea will compete in Javelin Throw qualification, following an excellent season where he has thrown a personal best of 64.47m.<\/p>\n
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Daniel Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) will be the first of two Irish racewalkers to compete in Rieti when he goes in the final of the Boys 5000m Race Walk, an event in which S\u00e9amus Clarke (Moy Valley AC) medalled in two years ago.<\/p>\n
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With just twelve entries the Girls 1500m is set to be a straight final on Saturday evening and taking her place on the start line will be Emma Hickey (United Striders AC). Hickey medalled in the U20 Women\u2019s race at last year\u2019s European Athletics Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal and her 4:23.16 PB ranks her in the top half of the field.<\/p>\n
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The final morning session is set for Sunday, and three Irish athletes will race in finals. Leah O\u2019Gara (Finn Valley AC) is first up in the Girls 5000m Race Walk and is followed by Ava Colreavy (Sligo AC) and Freya Renton (Westport AC) in the Girls 3000m final. Colreavy\u2019s 9:28.60 clocking is the fifth fastest on the entry list, with Renton\u2019s season\u2019s best of 9:33.70 also putting her inside the top ten.<\/p>\n
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Both Ireland\u2019s Girls and Boys medley relay teams will compete in the heats on Sunday morning and will have aspirations of making finals that evening. The last session is finals only and hopefully many Irish athletes will be in action vying for medal success.<\/p>\n
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Irish in Action \u2013 European Athletics U18 Championships \u2013 Rieti, Italy<\/p>\n
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Day One \u2013 Morning Session \u2013 Thursday July 16th<\/p>\n
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Lucie Cawley \u2013 Girls 2000m Steeplechase \u2013 Round One \u2013 07:35 (08:35)Ally Duffy \u2013 Girls 2000m Steeplechase \u2013 Round One \u2013 07:35 (08:35)Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 100m Hurdles \u2013 08:10 (09:10)Jack Collins \u2013 Boys 800m \u2013 Round One \u2013 08:35 (09:35)Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 High Jump \u2013 10:15 (11:15)<\/p>\n
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Day One \u2013 Evening Session \u2013 Thursday July 16th<\/p>\n
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Tara Laverty \u2013 Girls Discus Throw \u2013 Qualification Group A \u2013 14:30 (15:30)<\/p>\n
OR<\/p>\n
Tara Laverty \u2013 Girls Discus Throw \u2013 Qualification Group B \u2013 16:15 (17:15)Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 Shot Put \u2013 15:05 (16:05)Ethan Carr \u2013 Boys 400m \u2013 Round One \u2013 16:30 (17:30)Evelyn Kwik \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 Round One \u2013 17:10 (18:10)Aisling Shevlin \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 Round One \u2013 17:10 (18:10)Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 200m \u2013 18:00 (19:00)<\/p>\n
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Day Two \u2013 Morning Session \u2013 Friday July 17th<\/p>\n
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Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 Long Jump \u2013 07:35 (08:35)Isabelle Gaffney \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 Round One \u2013 08:20 (09:20)Tara-Rose Smith \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 Round One \u2013 08:20 (09:20)Daniel Downey \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 Round One \u2013 09:00 (10:00)Arron Whelan \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 Round One \u2013 09:00 (10:00)Elle-Kate McRae \u2013 Girls 400m Hurdles \u2013 Round One \u2013 09:40 (10:40)Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 Javelin \u2013 Group A \u2013 10:20 (11:20)<\/p>\n
OR<\/p>\n
Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 Javelin \u2013 Group B \u2013 11:30 (12:30)Tiffany Nwaedozie \u2013 Girls 200m \u2013 Round One \u2013 10:25 (11:25)Christopher Olatunde \u2013 Boys 200m \u2013 Round One \u2013 11:15 (12:15)<\/p>\n
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Day Two \u2013 Evening Session \u2013 Friday July 17th<\/p>\n
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Evelyn Quik \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 SF \u2013 16:10 (17:10) *Aisling Shevlin \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 SF \u2013 16:10 (17:10) *Ethan Carr \u2013 Boys 400m \u2013 SF \u2013 16:40 (17:40) *Jack Collins \u2013 Boys 800m \u2013 SF \u2013 18:00 (19:00) *Emer Purtill \u2013 Girls Heptathlon \u2013 800m \u2013 18:25 (19:25)Charlie O\u2019Neill \u2013 Boys 1500m \u2013 Round One \u2013 18:50 (19:50)Luke Merrigan \u2013 Boys 1500m \u2013 Round One \u2013 18:50 (19:50)<\/p>\n
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Day Three \u2013 Morning Session \u2013 Saturday July 18th<\/p>\n
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Kevin O\u2019Shea \u2013 Boys Javelin Throw \u2013 Qualification Group A \u2013 07:55 (08:55)<\/p>\n
OR<\/p>\n
Kevin O\u2019Shea \u2013 Boys Javelin Throw \u2013 Qualification Group B \u2013 09:10 (10:10)Daniel Glennon \u2013 Boys 5000m Race Walk \u2013 Final \u2013 08:05 (09:05)Lucie Cawley \u2013 Girls 2000m Steeplechase \u2013 Final \u2013 08:45 (09:45) *Ally Duffy \u2013 Girls 2000m Steeplechase \u2013 Final \u2013 08:45 (09:45) *Isabelle Gaffney \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 SF \u2013 09:07 (10:07) *Tara-Rose Smith \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 SF \u2013 09:07 (10:07) *Tiffany Nwaedozie \u2013 Girls 200m \u2013 SF \u2013 11:00 (12:00) *Christopher Olatunde \u2013 Boys 200m \u2013 SF \u2013 11:30 (12:30) *<\/p>\n
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Day Three \u2013 Evening Session \u2013 Saturday July 18th<\/p>\n
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Daniel Downey \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 SF \u2013 16:20 (17:20) *Arron Whelan \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 SF \u2013 16:20 (17:20) *Elle-Kate McRae \u2013 Girls 400m Hurdles \u2013 SF \u2013 16:50 (17:50) *Evelyn Kwik \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:20 (18:20) *Aisling Shevlin \u2013 Girls 400m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:20 (18:20) *Emma Hickey \u2013 Girls 1500m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:35 (18:35)Ethan Carr \u2013 Boys 400m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:55 (18:55) *Tiffany Nwaedozie \u2013 Girls 200m \u2013 Final \u2013 18:10 (19:10) *Tara Laverty \u2013 Girls Discus Throw \u2013 Final \u2013 18:20 (19:20) *Christopher Olatunde \u2013 Boys 200m \u2013 Final \u2013 18:25 (19:25) *Jack Collins \u2013 Boys 800m \u2013 Final \u2013 18:55 (19:55) *<\/p>\n
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Day Four \u2013 Morning Session \u2013 Sunday July 19th<\/p>\n
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Leah O\u2019Gara \u2013 Girls 5000m Race Walk \u2013 Final \u2013 08:00 (09:00)Ava Colreavy \u2013 Girls 3000m \u2013 Final \u2013 09:05 (10:05)Freya Renton \u2013 Girls 3000m \u2013 Final \u2013 09:05 (10:05)Girls Medley Relay \u2013 Round One \u2013 09:25 (10:25)Boys Medley Relay \u2013 Round One \u2013 10:15 (11:15)<\/p>\n
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Day Four \u2013 Evening Session \u2013 Sunday July 19th<\/p>\n
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Daniel Downey \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 Final \u2013 16:25 (17:25) *Arron Whelan \u2013 Boys 400m Hurdles \u2013 Final \u2013 16:25 (17:25) *Elle-Kate McRae \u2013 Girls 400m Hurdles \u2013 Final \u2013 16:45 (17:45) *Charlie O\u2019Neill \u2013 Boys 1500m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:00 (18:00) *Luke Merrigan \u2013 Boys 1500m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:00 (18:00) *Kevin O\u2019Shea \u2013 Boys Javelin Throw \u2013 Final \u2013 17:15 (18:15) *Isabelle Gaffney \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:45 (18:45) *Tara-Rose Smith \u2013 Girls 800m \u2013 Final \u2013 17:45 (18:45) *Girls Medley Relay \u2013 Final \u2013 18:00 (19:00) *Boys Medley Relay \u2013 Final \u2013 18:15 (19:15) *<\/p>\n
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*Subject to advancing<\/p>\n
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Local times in brackets<\/p>\n
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Where to watch? <\/p>\n
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The European Athletics U18 Championships will be available to watch on the Eurovision Sport website HERE<\/a> and app. An account which you can register for free for is required.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Athletics Ireland\u2019s European Athletics U18 Championships selection policy is HERE<\/a>Irish team selection is HERE<\/a>European Athletics U18 Championships website is HERE<\/a>European Athletics U18 Championships timetable is HERE<\/a>Interviews will be available on the Athletics Ireland social media channels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A 25-strong Irish team have arrived in Rieti, Italy ahead of the European Athletics U18 Championships that take…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":550339,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[61,60,43],"class_list":["post-550338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=550338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/550338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/550339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=550338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=550338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=550338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}