Team Ireland Update from Day 3 in Gothenburg

The opening three days of the World Masters Athletics Championships in Gothenburg has seen Team Ireland athletes demonstrating their remarkable talent on the global stage. Despite the record-high level of competition, Irish athletes continue to achieve notable results across a range of events.

Joe Frey, competing in the M65 Decathlon, finished 11th out of 24 competitors. His performance echoed the strength seen in his daughter, Laura Frey, who yesterday finished 4th in the W35 Heptathlon. Joe’s performance showed the athletic genes that run in the family, as the Frey's did their nation proud in Sweden.

Lea Fulcher, running in the M50 category, secured a spot in the 800m final with a strong second-place finish in his heat. Similarly, Joe Gough, competing in the M70 category, also qualified comfortably for the 800m final, showcasing the depth of Ireland’s middle-distance talent.

Rachel Murphy delivered an impressive performance in the W40 800m final, finishing 9th while setting a personal best in the qualifiers. Mary Horgan also showed a brilliant effort in the W35 800m final, narrowly missing a medal by just 0.21 seconds, finishing 4th in a fiercely contested race.

Kieran Kelly was just edged out of the medals in the final lap of the M35 5000m, ultimately finishing in 4th place. In another close encounter, Mary O’Callaghan, competing in the W70 category, set a personal best in the 100m but did not advance to the final.

Mick Priest, in the M70 category, finished 4th in a highly competitive 300m hurdles race. Similarly, Niall Kelly and Niamh McGuire competed in the 300m hurdles heats, with Kelly finishing 5th in his heat and McGuire 4th in hers. Both athletes demonstrated strong performances in their respective events.

Geraldine Finegan, in the W55 category, made an impressive advancement to the 300m hurdles final with a strong performance.

Michelle Kenny and Michelle Lannon made their mark in the 5000m finals, with Kenny finishing 5th and Lannon 7th. Ronan Kearns, competing in the 3000m steeplechase, finished 20th in his effort.

Yesterday, Declan Reed also competed in the M50 5000m, finishing 7th, while Catherine O’Connor placed 5th in the W35 5000m. Ian Egan ran a solid M55 5000m race in just over 20 minutes but did not secure a podium finish.

John Gilvarry, in the M50 category, finished 11th in the High Jump, showcasing his skill and determination in a highly competitive field.

In one of the most exciting developments of the Championships thus far, Tina Gallagher concluded her Heptathlon in an excellent 6th place, setting a new Irish record in the process. Her outstanding performance not only highlights her versatility and skill across multiple disciplines but also adds a significant milestone to Ireland’s achievements in these championships.

Overall, the opening three days has been filled with personal achievements, podium and near podium finishes, and strong performances for Team Ireland.

Featured Image: by Ronan Gately