NI and Ulster Athletes Selected for World Relays and Inter-Counties Mountain Race

Athletics Ireland has confirmed its team for the 2026 World Relay Championships, which will take place in Botswana on 2-3 May, with five athletes from Northern Ireland and Ulster included in the national squad.

North Down AC’s Rachel McCann and City of Lisburn AC athlete Jenna Breen have both been selected, alongside Finn Valley AC’s Arlene Crossan, Letterkenny AC’s Erin Friel and Tir Chonaill AC’s Fintan Dewhirst.

The quintet will travel to Botswana as part of the Irish team aiming to secure strong performances on the world stage at one of the biggest relay events of the year. The selection recognises the outstanding form shown by the athletes throughout the season and underlines the growing strength of sprinting and relay running across Northern Ireland and Ulster.

Meanwhile, NIMRA has also announced its Northern Ireland and Ulster team for the 2026 Inter-Counties Mountain Race, which will take place on 3 May.

The men’s team features Jarad Martin of Ballydrain Harriers, Jonny Scott of Springwell RC, Lorcan Vallely of Armagh AC, Ronan Davison-Kernan of Belfast Association of Rockclimbers & Fell Runners and Ethan McMullan of Newcastle & District AC.

NIMRA’s women’s team is made up of Catriona Edington from Annadale Striders, Esther Dickson of Newry AC, Karen Wilton from Jog Lisburn, Sam McNeilly of Newcastle & District AC and Katie Graham of Annadale Striders.

The Inter-Counties Mountain Race is one of the highlights of the fell running calendar, bringing together the strongest county and regional athletes from across Britain and Ireland.

With athletes representing clubs from across Northern Ireland and Ulster on both teams, the opening weekend of May promises to be a significant one for local athletics and mountain running.