A few of Ireland's top athletes gave outstanding performances at international competitions this past weekend.
On Saturday (3 June) Shona Heaslip and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill placed first and second in the women's B race at the European 10,000m Cup in Pacé, France. Kerry's Shona Heaslip finished second with a season-best time of 33:26.96 while Ide Nic Dhomhnaill placed first and ran a PB of 33:24.10. The Irish women’s team finished in 7th place overall.
An Irish 1-2 in the women’s B race! 🇮🇪
Ide Nic Dhomhnaill and Shona Heaslip finish first and second in 33:24.10 and 33:26.96!
📺 Watch the European 10,000m Cup live on our YouTube channel now!#Pace2023 pic.twitter.com/FinsKdW7FD— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) June 3, 2023
On Sunday, Sarah Lavin clocked a season best of 12.91 in the 100m hurdles to finish fifth at the FBK Games in the Dutch city of Hengelo. “I got out well, had a good start,” she said after the race. “I’d have liked to be top three but, given everything, I have to be really grateful for that. It’s up there with some of my best.”
"I have to be grateful with that performance. It's up there with some of my best."
An impressive season's best of 12.91 from @sarahlavin_ at the #ContinentalTour gold meeting in Hengelo to finish 5th. pic.twitter.com/pZH2enta9N— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) June 4, 2023
At the same tournament, Tipperary's Sharlene Mawdsley placed fourth in the 400m with a time of 52.14. “It wasn’t too bad, I think I’ve more to come,” said Mawdsley. “I’ve been training hard this year. Paris is next year so I don’t want to make the same mistakes of two years ago.”
"I’ve been training hard this year. Paris is next year so I don’t want to make the same mistakes of two years ago. I really want to build on that. I think I’ve more to come."
Sharlene Mawdsley 4th in the #ContinentalTour gold in Hengelo in 52.14, won by Femke Bol in 50.11. pic.twitter.com/8lPIew5VYK— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) June 4, 2023
After setting a national record in the 800m last weekend, Ciara Mageean ran 4:00.95 to place 4th in the Florence Diamond League 1500m. This was her fastest ever 1500m season opener run. The race also saw a new World Record being set by Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, who finished first with a time of 3:49.11.
“I crossed that line, I saw ‘world record’ and I was like holy moly.” @ciaramageean is full of admiration for @Kipyegon_Faith after the double Olympic and world champion set a world 1500m record ❤️
Mageean finished fourth in 4:00.95 🇮🇪
🎙️ @stuartweir #FlorenceDL 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/f3ILBBQr4X— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 2, 2023
