IRISH TEAM SELECTIONS FOR EUROPEAN U18 AND SIAB CHAMPIONSHIPS

Yesterday Athletics Ireland announced a 25-strong team for the forthcoming European U18 Championships, which will be held in Rieti, Italy, from 16 July.

Ethan Carr (Ballymena and Antrim AC), who is coached by his dad Graham, is the sole representative from Northern Ireland. He has been selected for both the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay.

Ethan has had a fabulous season so far this summer, winning the Irish Schools 400m title a few weeks ago and last weekend winning the Irish U17 400m title in a new championship record of 49.14. Ethan has improved his personal best three times so far this summer and goes into the championships with a PB time of 48.43.

Just two days later, attention will switch to Belfast, where the SIAB Track and Field Championships will be held at the Mary Peters Track on 18 July. With teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland competing, the level of competition will be very high. The championships last came to Belfast in 2022 and featured England's Phoebe Gill, who went on to run in the Paris Olympics only two years later.

Ulster athletes are well represented on the Irish team, with six girls and four boys selected.

Girls

• Grace Evans (St Patrick's College, Maghera) – 800m and relay
• Madison Welby (Friends School, Lisburn) – 800m
• Sara Devany (Regent House GS) – 80m hurdles, 300m hurdles and relay
• Isabella O'Dowd (Victoria College) – High Jump
• Emma Reid (Glenlola Collegiate School) – Discus
• Cabrini Pyne (Deele College) – Javelin

Boys

• Brendan Ndambrira (St Eunan's College) – 100m, 200m and relay
• Ewan Donald (Regent House GS) – 100m and relay
• Ronan Scullion (St Colman's, Newry) – 400m hurdles and relay
• Sam Grossmith (Wallace High School) – Javelin and Discus