World Athletics Selection for NI & Ulster Athletes
14 August 2023
Athletics Ireland have announced their 24-strong squad for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest from 19th-27th August, with a total of seven athletes from NI & Ulster.
European Champion and Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist, Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC) will head to Budapest full of confidence following an incredible performance at the Diamond League in Monaco last month, where she took Sonia O’Sullivan’s long standing Irish mile record in a time of 4.14.58.
Both Kate O'Connor (Dundalk St. Gerald's A.C.) and Nick Griggs (CNDR Track Club) were confirmed as additions to the Irish team for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, competing in their first Senior World Championships.
Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist, Kate O’Connor will compete in the Heptathlon, following an impression season, with a best of 6125 points achieved in June this year.
18-year-old Griggs will join Andrew Coscoran and Luke McCann in the Men’s 1500m following a brilliant performance in the European U20 Championships where he claimed Silver in the Men’s 3000m in a time of 8:45.69. The Tyrone man has been in phenomenal form in 2023, setting Irish U20 records over the 1500m, Mile, 3000m and 5000m.
Olympian Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) will compete in the Men’s 35k Walk, with club-mate Mark English taking on the Men’s 800m.
The Irish Relay teams have seen great success over the last two years, with Tir Chonaill Ac’s Kelly McGrory named as part of the Women’s 4x400m Relay team of: Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC). Ballymena & Antrim AC’s Callum Baird will make his Senior International debut in the Mixed 4x400m Relay team, consisting of: Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC); Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC); Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC); Chris O’Donnell (North Silgo AC) and Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers).
Congratulations to all of the athletes selected and their coaches:
|
Athlete Name |
Event(s) |
Club |
Coach |
|
Mark English |
800m |
Finn Valley AC |
Feidhlim Kelly |
|
Ciara Mageean |
1500m |
City of Lisburn AC |
Helen Clitheroe |
|
Nick Griggs |
1500m |
CNDR Track Club |
Mark Kirk |
|
Brendan Boyce |
35km Walk |
Finn Valley AC |
Rob Heffernan |
|
Kate O’Connor |
Heptathlon |
Dundalk St Gerards AC |
Michael O’Connor |
|
Kelly McGrory |
W 4x400m Relay |
Tir Chonaill AC |
Drew & Hayley Harrison |
|
Callum Baird |
Mx 4x400m Relay |
Ballymena & Antrim |
Ian Neely |
The World Athletics Championships will be broadcast via Virgin Media, for the first time, with coverage across all nine days of competition.