March 14th 2024
This week’s closure of the UCC Mardyke athletics track due to health and safety concerns has limited training options for athletes in Cork City
Athletics Ireland CEO, Hamish Adams attended a meeting with UCC and Club representatives onsite at the Mardyke today to view the track and discuss options available to remedy this challenge
UCC representatives confirmed a contractor is attending the Mardyke this week to assess temporary fixes to facilitate a return to the track. UCC will update all parties in the coming days as to the next steps in this process
UCC Director of Sport, Morgan Buckley, added: ‘UCC are committed to remedying this matter as soon as possible, the Mardyke athletics track is an essential piece of sporting infrastructure within the University and we a have a long-term commitment to the sport of athletics We apologise for the inconvenience we know this has caused, we took this decision reluctantly and in the best interest of the safety of athletes.’
Hamish Adams, said: ‘The closure of the Mardyke track compounds what is already a difficult situation with the MTU track closed for re-surfacing, these works are due for completion in the coming weeks. Cork City & County represents our largest membership base outside Dublin; and we sympathise with all our members in Cork who are now training without a track
Strategically we know there is a lack of athletics facilities in Cork, and we are remedying this with the development of a state-of-the-art indoor facility at MTU and the re-surfacing of the MTU track. Additionally, we have supported the construction of the new Bandon Athletics Club track and the Carrigaline Athletics Club track is at an early stage of development. We are also endorsing the need for a track in Midleton to support the East Cork athletics community, and this exciting project is an early stage of planning. Unfortunately, these projects will take time to complete, and we understand the Cork athletics community’s current frustration.’
The sport of athletics continues to grow strongly across Ireland and these new Cork facilities coming on stream will be essential to meet the demands of our community
Mardyke Track Closes Abruptly - March 11th 2024
MTU Track Update - September 7th 2023
MTU Track Update - January 2023
Belgrade, Serbia
Saturday March 30th 2024
Fiona Everard, Bandon AC & Ireland
Fiona Everard, Bandon AC, Irish Senior Cross-Country Champion is the only Cork athlete among a strong octet of Irish athletes selected for the World Cross-Country Championships, which will be held in Belgrade, Serbia, at the end of this month, on Saturday March 30th.
Unfortunately, even with eight high-calibre representatives, and a European location, Ireland is only sending two athletes in each of the Senior Men, Senior Women and Under-20 Men's events
| Event | Athlete | Club | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| U20 Women | Anna Gardiner | East Down AC | Peter Morgan |
| U20 Women | Kirsty Maher | Moy Valley | Andy Bibby & Phillip Finnerty |
| U20 Men | Harry Colbert | Waterford AC | Des Colbert |
| U20 Men | Seamus Robinson | City of Derry Spartans AC | Martin Robinson |
| Senior Women | Danielle Donegan | Tullamore Harriers | Emmett Dunleavy |
| Senior Women | Fiona Everard | Bandon AC | Matt Lockett |
| Senior Men | Hugh Armstrong | Ballina AC | Feidhlim Kelly |
| Senior Men | Keelan Kilrehill | Mov Valley AC | Emmett Dunleavy |
World Cross Country Championships Website & Timetable
| Belgrade Time | Irish Time | sex | event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 | 10:00 | W | U20 Race |
| 11:35 | 10:35 | M | U20 Race |
| 12:15 | 11:15 | X | Mixed Relay |
| 12:45 | 11:45 | W | Senior Race |
| 13:30 | 12:30 | M | Senior Race |
Athletics Ireland Release
EIGHT ATHLETES TO REPRESENT IRELAND AT WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Athletics Ireland has selected eight athletes to represent Ireland at the World Cross Country Championships that take place in Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday 30th March
Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) and Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC) will once again don the green singlet in the Senior Women’s 10,000m race
Everard caused a major surprise when she became 123.ie national senior cross country champion in November 2023 in Gowran and then went on to finish 34th at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels. The Galway based athlete will be looking to produce a strong performance in the Serbian capital
Donegan, who is the reigning U23 national cross country champion, finished 8th in her age category at those championships in Belgium and will be hoping for a positive start to her time in the senior athletics ranks
Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) and Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) came close to making the podium as part of the Senior Men’s team who finished fourth at the European Cross Country Championships last year. Both athletes placed inside the top twenty that day in gruelling conditions and they will once again be aiming for good results as they take to action in the Senior Men’s 10,000m
Two of the gold medal winning Irish U20 Men’s team from those championships in Belgium will make the journey to Belgrade. Seamus Robinson (City of Derry Spartans AC) and Harry Colbert (Waterford AC) will be aiming to emulate their heroics from that memorable day in December as they race over 8,000m
Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC) will return to international action in the U20 Women’s 6,000m race. Gardiner looked seriously impressive when claiming the Senior Girls title at the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships last weekend and will look to build on that performance and her top ten finish at the European Cross Country Championships last year
Maher last represented Ireland at the Celtic International Cross Country in Scotland in January where she won bronze and will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to be back in green again following her top fifteen finish in Brussels
Mark Kenneally, Athletics Ireland Performance Endurance Lead, commented on the selection:
“I am delighted to see Irish athletes returning to the World Cross Country Championships,” he said
“Following a very successful European Cross Country Championships in December in Brussels I think this represents a great opportunity for some of our athletes to further develop their racing skills at the highest level and will undoubtedly serve as valuable experience in this regard.”
“The athletes selected have had a very successful Cross Country season to date and the World Championships will be a fitting place for them to round out their seasons,” Kenneally added
Related Articles
Cork City Sports Athlete of the Year 2023 - Fiona Everard
Fiona Everard is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month of November 2023
National Senior Cross-Country Champion Fiona Everard Interviewed
Fiona Everard is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month of April 2023
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday March 10th 2024
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Sunday March 10th, 09:30 - Courceys AC 5 Mile
Garrylucas, Kinsale
Sunday March 10th, 10am - Mt. Hillary AC Banteer 5 Mile
Banteer
Register for Banteer 5 MileRegister for Banteer 5 Mile
Sunday March 10th, 11am - Killeagh GAA Club 4 Mile
Killeagh
Sunday March 10th, 11am - Torc Wood (IMRA - Kerry)
Free Online Webinar
6:30pm Thursday March 7th 2024
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| Daniel Murphy, Apex Nutrition | |
Register for Cork City Marathon 2024
Press Release
Free Nutrition Tips Webinar with Nutritionist Daniel Murphy will help with preparations for upcoming Cork City Marathon in June
As the excitement builds for the Cork City Marathon June 2nd, participants are gearing up not just with their training plans but also with their nutrition strategies. To support runners in achieving their best performance, Apex Nutrition, in partnership with Cork City Marathon, is thrilled to announce a FREE webinar led by renowned nutritionist Daniel Murphy. The webinar will cover crucial aspects of marathon nutrition, from pre-race fueling to post-race recovery, offering invaluable insights to enhance performance and ensure optimal health
Daniel Murphy, leading nutritionist at Apex Nutrition, shares some key tips to help runners navigate their marathon nutrition journey effectively, with these topics set to be delved into in greater detail at the webinar:
Pre/Post Workout Fuel: Consume a balanced meal of mainly complex carbs such as pasta and rice 2-3 hours before training to improve overall energy. On the hour leading up to a race or training session, look to include some fruit. During your run look to have 60-75g of carbs each hour to ensure you stay fuelled. This can consist of gels or sports drinks
Hydration: Aim for a baseline of 35ml of water per kg of body weight a day. This can increase dramatically on warmer days or longer distances
Experiment with Training: Use your training sessions to test different fueling strategies and find what works best for your body. This is especially important with gels and sports drinks as it's common to see gut issues in athletes.
Practice Makes Perfect: Prepare for race day by practicing your fueling strategy during long training runs. This is also important when carb loading for the race. Having a nutrition strategy in place can mean much faster times and better recovery. This goes for all races, whether it's the 10K, Half, or full marathon
With the Cork City Marathon swiftly approaching, now is the ideal time for runners to hone their nutrition strategies in order to achieve peak performance. Whether tackling the 10K, Half Marathon, or Full Marathon, participants can benefit from expert guidance provided by Daniel Murphy during the FREE webinar scheduled for Thursday, March 7th at 6:30pm. With limited availability, interested individuals are encouraged to secure their spot by registering at Apex Nutrition's webinar registration page, https://calendly.com/apex_nutritionist/marathon-nutrition-with-apex-nutrition?month=2024-03
To register for the Cork City Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10K, and for more information on this year’s event, please visit www.corkcity.ie/cork-city-marathon-2024 and follow @corkcitymarathon on social media. #CorkCityMarathon24 #EveryMileisaMemory
The 2024 Cork City Marathon will kick off at 8:15 am for the full marathon, 10:15am for the half marathon and 8:45am for the 10k race (assembly for this race will commence at 8:15am at Merchant’s Quay). As a full member of AIMS, the Cork marathon is World Athletics certified. Make sure to mark the date in your diary as it promises to be an unforgettable day for both participants and spectators. To register for the Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10K, and for more information on this year’s event, please visit www.corkcity.ie/cork-city-marathon-2024 and follow @corkcitymarathon on social media
Cork City Marathon Facebook Page
* Exact Closing date to be confirmed
Athletes wishing to transfer clubs MUST apply using the Athletics Ireland ONLINE PORTAL ONLY, and are reminded that transfer forms are NOT being accepted by Athletics Ireland
The Online Transfer Portal is OPEN NOW
Access the portal through your own individual registration login on the Athletic Ireland website
Athletics Ireland Transfer Workflow Document (PDF Doc)
Step 1:
Access the AAI membership page - https://membership.athleticsireland.ie/
Enter your email address that you use to manage your membership and press “check”
Enter your password and sign in
Action “Create Club Transfer”
Select the new club you wish to join and submit
Up to now, Completed forms were submitted to Cork AAI County Board Registrar, John Copithorne, this is no longer the procedure. Any paper/pdf transfer form received CANNOT be accepted, as all transfer applications MUST be submitted via the Online Portal
Next Transfer Window, following March 2024, will open on August 1st 2024
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday March 3rd 2024
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Tuesday February 27th, 12 noon - Munster Schools' Cross Country Championships
Wednesday February 28th - Track and Field Live League
NIA, Abbotstown, Dublin
Friday March 1st, 10am - World Indoor T&F Championships - Day 1
Glasgow, Scotland
Saturday March 2nd, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday March 2nd, 10am - World Indoor T&F Championships - Day 2
Glasgow, Scotland
Saturday March 2nd, 9:30am - Munster U9-U19 Indoor Relay Championships
Nenagh Indoor Arena, Tipperary
Sunday March 3rd, 10am - World Indoor T&F Championships - Day 3
Glasgow, Scotland
Sunday March 3rd, 10am - MTU 5k (BHAA)
MTU, Bishopstown
Sunday March 3rd, 12 noon - Mushera - Boggeraghs (IMRA - Cork)
Sunday March 3rd, 12:00 - Munster Road Championships
Dundrum, Co. Tipperary
Sunday March 3rd, 12:30pm - Karen Fenton Memorial 5k
Ballinora, Waterfall
Register for Karen Fenton 5k 
Register for Karen Fenton 5k
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday March 10th 2024
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Wednesday March 13th, 11am - Munster Schools Indoor Track and Field Championships
Nenagh
Thursday March 14th, 8pm - 8:45pm - Officiating Webinar Series
First of Athletics Ireland Technical Committee's FREE Monthly Webinars focuses on the High Jump
Saturday March 16th, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday March 16th, 2pm - Mt. Claragh - Millstreet (IMRA - Cork)
Sunday March 17th - Saturday 23rd - European Masters Indoor T&F Championships
Torun, Poland
March 11th 2024
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| Mardyke Track, on left, and MTU Track |
UCC's Sonia O'Sullivan Mardyke Track closed abruptly, and unexpectedly, this morning, Monday March 11th 2024, leaving Cork Athletics, and County Cork, without a working track. Apart from training, this leaves Track and Field competition in the County in a very precarious place
"It is with great and sincere regret that I have to send this email to you all today. Following an urgent inspection this am with our Building and Estates team and outside experts and professional advisers and track repair companies I have had to take the decision to close the UCC Athletics track for health and safety and reasons, with immediate effect.
We have been keeping the track under close operational review with ongoing repairs over the past 2 years. However there has been a rapid and significant deterioration in the last 3-4 weeks. There are now over 15 full rips down to the underlying surface and perhaps up to 20% of the track with large bubbles on it - which will lead to further tears. We were advised by Sports Lab to cut way all rips and bubbles but on looking further at this we all agreed that the scale of cutting would be too high to sustain our operations safely. We cannot allow students/staff and external users continue to use the tack in such conditions. The underlying surface is very wet and slippery and cannot be repaired at this time. The scale of the repairs is such that the full track will probably need replacing - in the right weather conditions.
I take this decision very reluctantly, knowing that this is the only track available in Cork and the wider region. I understand that the MTU track is still under construction and is not due to open until the Summer at the earliest. I have spoken with the CEO of Athletics Ireland today to brief him. We are assessing the situation and will work with our advisors to see what we can do from here.
I am truly sorry it has come to do this and know that your club, athletes, and coaches will be greatly impacted. I thank you all for your support and work with us and hope we can return to operations at the earliest opportunity."
With MTU Track being out of commission for over 12 months, since February 2023, there is now no track facility for Cork's 8,600 registered athletes (2023 year-end), 58 Clubs and 3 Divisions.
With the upcoming Track & Field Season, plans had been in place to hold the Juvenile Championships in the Mardyke over three Sundays, with Field Events being held in Castleisland (Javelin), Leevale AC's High Performance Centre (Pole Vault) and Kilworth (Hammer & Discus). The closure of the Mardyke now means that all Track & Field events will probably be held in Castleisland ...if it's available!! Enquiries have already been made about the Tracks in Clonmel and Newcastle West, however parking at both of these facilities is very limited and, Cork Athletics understands, this renders both venues unsuitable for the Championship meets
Meantime, MTU Track remains closed, as it has been for over 12 months. The track has been partially relaid, but the final surface, and more, still needs to be laid. This requires several days of good weather at a time, and this has been hard to come by. Currently, it is hoped that the Track Contractors will return sometime around mid-April, with all works complete in mid to late May. This is likely to be too late for many of the Juvenile Championships, as Qualification from County Championships is required for entry to Munster and National Championships. It may be, should the track be available in May, that Qualification events can be held in MTU, with any non-qualification events held over until June or later.
Aside from the Juvenile Championships, there has not been a Senior T&F Championship in Cork since 2019, while limited Senior meets have been held, larger events, such as Leevale Open Sports have not. Overall, the past four years, between Covid and Track closures, has been a pretty bleak time for athletics in Cork
On the horizon, Bandon AC's Track Development, which is very badly needed for the County, looks to be the nearest non-college track to completion, however the track surfacing is still a year or two away. Meantime plans for a track in Mallow, while past the planning permission stage, are, apparently still in their infancy. There is also a campaign to develop a track in the Midleton/East Cork region, and feasibility studies are being carried out at the moment
Related Posts
MTU Track Update - September 7th 2023
MTU Track Update - January 2023
Ballintotis
8pm, Thursday April 18th 2024
Cork Athletics County Road Championships 2024 will be held in conjunction with the Ballintotis 4 Mile, on Thursday April 18th
This course was measured by John Walshe, Athletics Ireland National Grade Measurer
Ballintotis 4 Mile Event Details
Categories: Senior/Novice/Masters Men & Women
Fuller Details Once They Become Available
Entries
Entries should be made, in the normal fashion, via the Ballintotis 4 Mile Entry Portal. There is NO additional entry fee for entering the County Road Championships, but you MUST ensure that you enter under your AAI Membership number
The event comprises of Men's and Women's Novice and Masters Championships and will take place over 4 Miles
DETAILS (SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION)
Cork County AAI 4 Mile Road Championship 2024
1 The Cork County 4 mile road championship will be held this year in conjunction with the Ballintotis 4 Mile, which takes place on Thursday April 18th, with an 8pm start
2 Athletes wishing to compete in this championship must enter the Ballintotis race via their entry portal at https://eventmaster.ie/event/wkWRIPySRQ
3 Only athletes entered under their AAI club name will be eligible for championship medals. There will be no additional entry fee required for the County Championship
4 All athletes, regardless of category, will be regarded as seniors
5 Athletes in masters categories will be automatically eligible for their category championship medals
6 Novice Athletes will be required to declare, via the Novice Declaration Form, before 11pm on April 17th, that they are eligible to compete in the County Novice Road Championship. Athletes who may be eligible for Novice but who have not declared this beforehand will not be considered when Novice results are calculated
7 Results will be published on the Cork Athletics website on Friday 19th April. Team and individual category medals will be presented to the relevant club representatives at the next County Board meeting for dispersal to their athletes
1 All entrants regardless of category will automatically be entered in the Senior individual and club team championship
2 A Master, eligible for Novice, may enter both categories
3 Other than the Senior team championship, athletes are confined to the team of the category in which they have been entered. An exception to this will be where, say, a Master, in an Over 50+ category, who does not have a team, may be declared on the club 35+ team
4 Individual and team medals will be awarded to the first three in each category. There will be separate men’s and women’s team competitions for Senior, Novice and Over 35 with 4 athletes to count on a team. In the Over 45+ women, the Over 50+ men and the Over 65+ three athletes will count on the team
County Road Championship Results
2014 Results (PDF file)
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday March 10th 2024
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Wednesday March 6th, 8pm - Cork Athletics County Board Monthly Meeting
Admin Building, MTU Track
Saturday March 9th, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday March 9th, 10:00 - 16:00 - Assistant Coach Course - Mardyke Arena
Mardyke Arena
Saturday March 9th & Sunday 10th - European Throwing Cup
Leiria, Portugal
Nicola Tuthill, Bandon AC, Competes
Saturday March 9th - Irish Schools Cross Country Championships
Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin
Sunday March 10th, 09:30 - Courceys AC 5 Mile
Garrylucas, Kinsale
Sunday March 10th, 10am - Mt. Hillary AC Banteer 5 Mile
Banteer
Register for Banteer 5 MileRegister for Banteer 5 Mile
Sunday March 10th, 10am - Munster U9-U11 Indoor Championships 2024
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Sunday March 10th, 11am - Killeagh GAA Club 4 Mile
Killeagh
Sunday March 10th, 11am - Torc Wood (IMRA - Kerry)
Glasgow, Scotland
March 1st - 3rd 2024
(Update Fri 1st) Available only on Virgin Media in Ireland - TV or on your device. As expected, World Athletics Livestream is Geo Blocked in Ireland, as Virgin have the rights here
There will be Live Coverage on Virgin Media 2, over all three days
It will also be Livestreamed on World Athletics (NB: May be GeoBlocked in Ireland)
Friday March 1st
| Morning Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | Irish |
| 10:05 | W | 60 Metres Hurdles | Pentathlon | |
| 10:20 | W | 400 Metres | Heats | Sharlene Mawdsley |
| 10:55 | W | High Jump | Pentathlon | |
| 11:00 | M | 400 Metres | Heats | |
| 11:06 | W | Shot Put | Final | |
| 11:40 | W | 800 Metres | Heats | |
| 12:22 | M | 800 Metres | Heats | |
| 13:10 | M | 60 Metres | Heats | Israel Olatunde |
| 13:20 | W | Shot Put | Pentathlon | |
| Evening Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | Irish |
| 19:05 | W | 1500 Metres | Heats | Sarah Healy |
| 19:15 | W | Long Jump | Pentathlon | |
| 19:41 | W | High Jump | Final | |
| 19:45 | M | 60 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 20:10 | M | 1500 Metres | Heats | |
| 20:20 | M | Shot Put | Final | |
| 20:50 | W | 400 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 21:10 | M | 400 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 21:30 | W | 800 Metres | Pentathlon | |
| 21:45 | M | 60 Metres | Final | |
Saturday March 2nd
| Morning Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | Irish |
| 10:00 | M | Long Jump | Final | |
| 10:10 | M | 60 Metres Hurdles | Heats | |
| 11:00 | M | 60 Metres | Heptathlon | |
| 11:20 | W | 60 Metres | Heats | |
| 12:10 | W | 800 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 12:15 | M | Long Jump | Heptathlon | |
| 12:30 | M | 800 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 13:35 | M | Shot Put | Heptathlon | |
| Evening Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | |
| 19:05 | W | Pole Vault | Final | |
| 19:10 | M | 60 Metres Hurdles | Semi-Final | |
| 19:30 | M | High Jump | Heptathlon | |
| 19:40 | M | Triple Jump | Final | |
| 19:45 | W | 60 Metres | Semi-Final | |
| 20:15 | W | 3000 Metres | Final | Roisín Flanagan |
| 20:40 | M | 3000 Metres | Final | |
| 21:00 | W | 400 Metres | Final | |
| 21:10 | M | 400 Metres | Final | |
| 21:30 | M | 60 Metres Hurdles | Final | |
| 21:45 | W | 60 Metres | Final | |
Sunday March 3rd
| Morning Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | Irish |
| 10:05 | M | 60 Metres Hurdles | Heptathlon | |
| 10:18 | W | Triple Jump | Final | |
| 10:25 | W | 60 Metres Hurdles | Heats | Sarah Lavin |
| 11:10 | M | 4x400 Metres Relay | Heats | |
| 11:15 | M | Pole Vault | Heptathlon | |
| 11:38 | W | 4x400 Metres Relay | Heats | Ireland |
| 11:50 | M | High Jump | Final | |
| Evening Session | ||||
| Time | Cat | Event | Round | |
| 19:00 | M | Pole Vault | Final | |
| 19:15 | W | Long Jump | Final | |
| 19:40 | W | 60 Metres Hurdles | Semi-Final | (Sarah Lavin) |
| 20:15 | M | 4x400 Metres Relay | Final | |
| 20:30 | W | 4x400 Metres Relay | Final | (Ireland) |
| 20:45 | M | 1000 Metres | Heptathlon | |
| 21:00 | W | 60 Metres Hurdles | Final | (Sarah Lavin) |
| 21:10 | M | 800 Metres | Final | |
| 21:20 | W | 800 Metres | Final | |
| 21:30 | M | 1500 Metres | Final | |
| 21:45 | W | 1500 Metres | Final | |
Athletics Ireland Release
Team Ireland arrive in Glasgow
Irish athletes have arrived in Scotland ahead of the World Athletics Championships which take place at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow from 1-3 March
The Irish team will join over 600 athletes from 130 nations, which includes a star-studded entry list containing twenty reigning world champions and seven gold medallists from the Tokyo Olympics
Leading out the Irish on day 1 of these championships, which will be broadcast live on Virgin Media 2, will be Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) who was one of Ireland’s standout performers at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest
Mawdsley goes into tomorrow’s 400m ranked 13th based on her season’s best and will very much have sights set on progressing to the evening’s semi-finals. World record-holder Femke Bol heads a stacked field which will likely result in Mawdsley having to threaten her PB of 51.91 to progress
Mawdsley also looks set to play a leading role on the women’s 4x400m relay team who will take to the heats on Sunday morning with eyes once again set on making another global final. There are nine countries entered in the women’s 4x400m relay which includes teams from leading medal favourites Jamaica, USA, and the Netherlands
The women’s 4x400m relay team has proved to be one of Ireland’s most consistent performers at major championships however and another huge showing can be expected from the team of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC), Phil Healy (Bandon AC), Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC), Rachel McCann (North Down AC), and Lauren Cadden (Sligo AC). The final is set for 8.30pm on Sunday
21-year-old Israel Olatunde (Tallaght AC) will take to the blocks in the opening session of day 1, with the three-time national 60m champion taking to another major championship in the heats of the 60m from 1.10pm on Friday
The 2022 European 100m finalist has raced sparingly this season, but Olatunde is proven at saving his best for championship racing. Ranked outside the top 30 on his season’s best, it’s likely Olatunde will need a mid 6.6 to make the evening’s semi-final
Sarah Healy (UCD AC) will lead out Ireland in tomorrow’s evening session as she takes to the heats of the 1500m from 7.05pm. Healy broke the Irish senior indoor 1500m record with a stunning 4.03.83 earlier this month and it’s reported that her team feel she is capable of going even faster should race conditions allow
Healy is ranked 5th on her season’s best, and should she safely negotiate the tricky heats, the UCD athlete can expect to face a tactically run race in the final on Sunday which looks set to be dominated by Ethiopia who boast the top three ranked athletes in the field
Irish fans will have to wait until the evening session on day 2 to cheer on Roisin Flanagan (Finn Valley AC) who is set to take her place in a stacked women’s 3,000m final
Flanagan, who is based in Colorado in the United States, recently set an Irish record over 2 Miles (9:36.70) when competing at the Millrose Games on February 11th in New York
Her previous major track championship experience came at the 2022 European Championships in Munich where she finished 14th in the 5000m, a position that she looks well capable of bettering on Saturday
Sunday morning will see the return of Limerick’s Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) who travels to Glasgow on the back of a string of outstanding performances, most recently clocking an equal PB of 7.91 on her way to claiming her sixth national indoor 60m hurdles title
Lavin once again will face a world class field but will undoubtably be looking to replicate her appearance in the 60m hurdles final at the 2022 World Indoor Championships
The national 100m hurdles record holder has already set a personal best over the shorter distance this indoor season. In recent years Lavin has improved 0.14 from opener to her season’s best which bodes well for another huge weekend for one of Ireland’s most consistent championships performers
There will be Live Coverage on Virgin Media 2, over all three days
It will also be Livestreamed on World Athletics (NB: May be GeoBlocked in Ireland)
River Lee Hotel
Friday February 23rd 2024
Fiona Everard, Bandon AC is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Year 2023
Fiona Everard, with Tony O'Connell
The award was presented to Fiona at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Friday February 23rd 2024
Cork City and County Mayors, sponsor representatives, and members of Cork City Sports
Ruairí O'Connor, General Manager, The River Lee Hotel, speaking on behalf of the sponsors
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Year Award is sponsored by 96FM/C103FM, The Echo, The River Lee, Cork Crystal and Leisureworld
Cork City Sports - Awards Archive
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Year 2023 is Fiona Everard, Bandon AC
Fiona Everard with her family, and other members of bandon AC
Photos
Photos from the Awards Function
Address by Lord Mayor, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy
Intro by Tony O'Connell, Chairman, Cork City Sports
Address by Frank Walley, President, Cork City Sports
Ruairí O'Connor, General Manager, River Lee Hotel, speaks on behalf of the Sponsors
Address by Hamish Adams, CEO, Athletics Ireland
Ken Perrott, 96FM Recaps on the 12 2023 Monthly Award Winners
Announcement of Fiona Everard as Cork City Sports Athlete of the Year 2023
Tony O'Connell, Chairman, Cork City Sports interviewed by John Cashman, 103FM
Fiona Everard interviewed by John Walshe and John Quigley
