Irish Triple Crown on Day 3 of U20 European Championships
Triple Gold for Ireland Day 3 of European Under 20 T&F Championships 2021
Tallinn, Estonia
Saturday July 17th 2021
A Magnificent day for Irish athletics as Rhasidat Adeleke wins Women's 200m for Sprint Double, having won the 100m yesterday. Cian McPhillips followed up with his win the Men's 1500m...and we weren't finished yet, when, not long afterwards, Nicholas Griggs won the Men's 3000m. Earlier the Irish 4x400m Women's Relay team, including Bandon AC's lauren McCourt and Doheny AC's Maeve O'Neill, qualified for tomorrow's final. ...and throughout the day Bandon AC's Diarmuid O'Connor was knocking out PB's - 4 in all - on Day 1 of the Decathlon.
After Day 3, Ireland sits on top of the Medal Table - did we ever think we'd see this at any International Championships?
Well done to all the athletes and coaches! This didn't just happen by turning up on the day! 
Medal Table after Day 3
Womens 200m Final
 |  |  |
| Cian McPhillips, European U20 1500m Champion | Rhasidat Adeleke, European U20 200m Champion | Nicholas griggs, European U20 3000m Champion |
Cian McPhillips - European U20 1500m Champion
Ireland's 4x400 Women Qualify for Final
Lauren McCourt, Kate O'Connell, Caoimhe Cronin and Maeve O'Neill
Ireand's Womens 4x400 team of Lauren McCourt produced a fabulous result today, qualifying for tomorrow evening's final as one of the non-automatic qualifiers, at the expense of the much fancied polish team. Bandon AC's Lauren McCourt ran the first leg in 55.28, for 3rd place. Next up was Kate O'Connell, who ran 55.88, for 5th. Doheny AC's Maeve O'Neill ran a superb leg, in 54.29, to bring Ireland back to 2nd. Caoimhe Cronin took the anchor leg, running 54.65, for an aggregate 3:39.80 and 5th place. Caoimhe maintained her position until the finishing straight, where she lost several places, but dug deep in the final 20m and got Ireland back into the qualifying places. The final is tomorrow evening, at 5pm
Mens Decathlon - Diarmuid O'Connor
Half-way through the two-day 10 event Decathlon, Bandon AC's Diarmuid O'Connor lies in 5th place, having produced no less than four PB's in his five first-day events:
110m - 11.15 sec PB
Long Jump - 7.01m PB
Shot Put - 13.61m
High Jump - 2.00m PB
400m - 49.12 sec PB
Diarmuid's introduction at start of 400m
Mens' 3000m - Fionn Harrington and Nicholas Griggs
Fionn Harrington, Bandon AC, and Nicholas Griggs both took out the early stages of the Men's 300m, with Fionn still 'in the mix' after the 2k mark, after which Griggs showed his class and took over. Griggs went for home with about 750m to go and there was no catching him, and he was extending his lead down the home straight
Fionn Harrington and Nicholas Griggs celebrate
Finish of 3000m
Athletics Ireland Report - Day 3
Historic Record-Breaking Day for Irish Athletes in Tallinn
Rhasidat Adeleke, Cian McPhillips, and Nicholas Griggs created Irish athletics history by winning three gold medals on day 3 of the European U20 Championships in Tallinn.
It continued a stunning 24 hours for the Irish in Estonia, who only 24 hours previous were celebrating the Adeleke 100m gold on day 2. The haul of now 4 gold medals sees Ireland currently sitting on top of the overall medal table heading into the final day of the championships. It already represents Ireland's most successful ever championships.
Adeleke (Tallaght AC) started the historic run of results in claiming the 200m gold medal to complete an historic sprint double, smashing her own Irish junior, U23 and senior 200m records in the process.
The Tallaght AC sprint star had eased through this morning's semi-final in 23.27 before going on to claim victory in the 200m final in the Irish record-breaking time of 22.90.
Adeleke was quick out of the blocks from the gun, but it was the now customary powerful surge around the home bend which saw her move clear of the field to take 0.6 off her own Irish record.
The 200m title completes the sprint double for Adeleke who claimed the 100m title yesterday in just as impressive style, making Adeleke the first athlete since Jodie Williams a decade ago to win a 100/200m double at the European U20 Championships.
Fan's may be treated to another appearance from the double European gold medallist, with the Ireland Women's 4 x 400m team set to take their place in the final tomorrow evening.
The team 4 x 400m team of Lauren McCourt (Bandon AC), Kate O'Connell (Lucan Harriers), Maeve O'Neill (Doheny AC), and Caoimhe Cronin (Le Cheile) put together a superb run of 3:39.80 (q) in this morning's heats to secure the place in the final which is set for 5.00pm (Sun 18th).
Irish fans did not have to wait long for another podium performance, with Cian McPhillips (Longford AC) looking all class as he took the 1500m gold medal. The Longford AC athlete provided the Irish in attendance with another moment to saviour as he powered down the home straight in a close fought battle with Rick Van Riel of the Netherlands.
McPhillips raced tactically perfect as he claimed his track position from the gun, before battling it out over the final 200m to cross the line in 3.46.55 (54 second last lap).
The performance from the Joe Lyons trained athlete was the first gold medal by an Irishman at the event since Colin Costello won the same title in 2005.
One of the biggest roars of the day was heard as 16-year old Nicholas Griggs (Mid-Ulster AC) unlocked a final 2:31 kilometer to run away from the field in the 3000m final to claim yet another gold medal for Ireland.
Griggs, who suffered enormous personal tragedy only last month showed race management which belied his years to beat the best U20 athletes in Europe in stunning fashion, crossing the line in 8:17.18.
Fionn Harrington (Bandon AC) also battled on to finish 16th in Europe in a time of 8:29.71 (3000m), providing the Bandon athlete with some great championship experience over the last 3 days.
Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) was in action in the Men's 200m final earlier in the evening. The Galway athlete secured his place in the final with a 21.29 semi-final performance before going on to claim 5th (21.18) in Europe to complete a brilliant weekend of competition for the Galway athlete. McDonnell now heads for Tokyo as part of the Olympic Mixed 4 x 400m relay team.
Mullingar Harriers due of Matthew Glennon and Oisin Lane also had final fever in the 10k Walk. There was a brilliant 6th place finish for Lane (Mullingar Harriers) who crossed the line in a big personal best of 43:33.53. Matthew Gleenon (Mullingar Harriers) finished 22nd in Europe in a time of 45:53.44 in what was another blisteringly hot day for the endurance athletes.
Casey Mulvey (Innyvale AC) went in Group A qualifying of the Shot Put from early doors. Mulvey would finish with a best throw of 13.30m and was unlucky to foul on her final two attempts. Her 25th place was unfortunately not enough to progress to the next round. The David Sweeney trained athlete will be heading to De Paul University in Chicago in August and will have a great opportunity to progress further over the coming years.
Diarmuid O'Connor (Bandon AC) is right in contention after day 1 of the Men's Decathlon. O'Connor currently lies within 49 points of a podium spot on the back of 3 PBs across his 4 events today, which included him smashing his High Jump PB with a 2.00M clearance. The Bandon athlete moved from 10th to 5th over the course of the day for a cumulative score of 4006.
Day 4 - Sunday July 18th
Diarmuid O'Connor will again be first of the Irish in action on day 4 as he continues his Decathlon competition from 7.30am. His final event of the day will be the 1500m set for 4.37pm.
The heats of the Men's 4 x 100m will see four of the relay team (Israel Olatunde, Adam Sykes, Charles Okafor, Cilian Griffin, James Ezeonu, Sean Harding) take to the Tallinn track for 9.00am. The team will be hoping for a double appearance on day 4 with the final scheduled for 2.50pm.
Aoife McGreevy (Lagan Valley AC) & Laura Mooney (Tullamore Harriers) will be last of the Irish to make their Estonian debuts. They are set to take to the line in the Women's 5,000m finals, which again look set to be split into A and B.
The Women's 4 x 400m relay team will round of the Irish involvement at these historic championships.
Sunday 18th
7.30am: Men's Decathlon (110m Hurdles) - Diarmuid O'Connor Bandon AC
9.00am: Men's 4 x 100m Relay Heats
8:25am: Men's Decathlon (Discus) - Diarmuid O'Connor Bandon AC
11:30am: Men's Decathlon (Pole Vault) - Diarmuid O'Connor Bandon AC
2:20/3:25pm: Men's Decathlon (Javelin) - Diarmuid O'Connor Bandon AC
2.50pm: Men's 4 x 100m Relay Final
3.38pm/4.05pm: Women's 5000m Finals (A & B) - Aoife McGreevy (Lagan Valley AC) & Laura Mooney (Tullamore Harriers)
4.37pm: Men's Decathlon Final Event (1500m) - Diarmuid O'Connor Bandon AC
5.00pm: Women's 4 x 400m Relay Final
