Ireland’s young athletes made a strong impression at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, delivering personal bests and fierce competition over four days of championship action.
Precious Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC) was one of the standout performers, excelling in both the 100m and 200m. She set a personal best of 11.62 seconds in the 100m semi-finals, qualifying comfortably for the final where she finished seventh. Switching focus to the 200m, Akpe-Moses continued her impressive form by clocking a new personal best of 24.22 seconds in the heats. She ultimately placed fourth in the 200m final with a solid 23.72 seconds, just missing out on a medal but demonstrating great promise.
In the longer distances, Dearbhla Allen (Dunboyne AC) and Caoimhe Flannery (Crusaders AC) both qualified for the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase final after setting personal bests in the heats. Their performances highlighted the growing strength of Irish women in the demanding steeplechase event.
The Irish Women’s 4x100m relay team, composed of Akpe-Moses, Fatima Amusan (UCD AC), Molly Daly (City of Lisburn AC), and Leila Colfer (UCD AC), also qualified for the final. Despite tough competition, the quartet delivered a solid final performance, improving on their heat time and showcasing teamwork and speed on the European stage.
In combined events, Enya Silkena (Ratoath AC) competed in the Heptathlon, finishing 17th overall with a total of 4693 points.
The performances of these young women reflect the bright future of Irish athletics, combining talent, determination, and significant personal improvements on the European stage.
You can see the full list of results here.
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