The Irish team have arrived in Istanbul ahead of the European Athletics Indoor Championships which take place from March 2nd – 5th 2023.
Ireland will have fifteen athletes (nine women and six men), including a relay team, taking to European competition across the busy four-day schedule.
The Irish team boasts plenty of international experience including two-time European World Indoor 60m Hurdles finalist Sarah Lavin and Commonwealth Games Heptathlon medallist Kate O'Connor.
The championships look set to be hugely competitive with the Atakoy Arena set to play host to more than 600 of Europe’s top athletes. The women's field includes Tokyo Olympic champions Malaika Mihambo (long jump) and Nafissatou Thiam (pentathlon).
The first female Irish athlete to take to competition will be Kate O'Connor in the Pentathlon 60m hurdles at 6:00 am Friday (Irish time) before she takes to the high jump, shot put, long jump, and the 800m.
The women’s 400m looks arguably the highest quality and competitive event of the week. They are included as one of six qualifying nations and will compete in a straight final on Sunday.
National champion Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), and Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers) will strive to progress through Friday’s heats (7.40am).
Mawdsley recorded a PB this season of 51.91, with Rhasidat Adeleke the only Irish athlete to go faster in 2023. A reproduction of that performance would see Mawdsley right in contention for a final appearance.
Sophie Becker claimed the national 400m title on her first outing of the season with a dominant display and we can expect to see the Raheny star improve on her seasons best of 53.11 as she looks to progress through the rounds.
The semi-finals of the 400m will follow in Friday’s afternoon session (4.55pm).
Joan Healy rounds out the Irish in action in Friday’s morning session with the Leevale athlete extending her indoor season on the back of a string of outstanding 60m performances in recent weeks. She ran 7.30 last weekend, the fastest of her career to date, so expect to see her target sub 7.30 as she looks to break into the semis.
Following on from that, all eyes will then turn to the final 800m of the pentathlon as Kate O’Connor rounds out her competition.
Saturday's World Indoor finalist Sarah Lavin takes to the starting blocks for the first round of the 60m hurdles on Saturday morning (7.35am).
The recent national 60mH champion has threatened the 8 second barrier on several occasions this season, finally smashing through and claiming a PB of 7.95 in Madrid last week which sees her right in the mix of making Sunday’s final.
The women’s 400m final is listed for 5.30pm and could potentially be one of the fastest races of the week.
On the Sunday, the morning session will see the semi-final of the women’s 60m hurdles take place (7.55am), with the final set for later in the day (6.05pm).
Live action will be available via RTE Sport across the 4 days with the schedule as follows:
Thursday March 2nd
Live on RTE News Channel & RTE Player
Friday March 3rd
Morning session live on RTE News Channel
Afternoon session on RTE2 from 4pm
Saturday March 4th
Morning session on RTE News Channel
Afternoon session RTE One from 3.30pm
Sunday March 5th
Morning session on RTE News Channel
Afternoon session live on RTE 2 from 4pm
