The Irish women’s 4x100m relay team not only won silver medals but set a new national U20 record of 43.90 seconds at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Tampere, Finland on Saturday (July 14).

The quartet of Molly Scott (SLOT), Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock-Louth), Ciara Neville (Emerald) and Patience Jumbo-Gula (St Gerard’s Dundalk) struck silver narrowly behind the Germans who ran 43.82 with Great Britain third in 44.05. Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght) had a hamstring injury which prevented her from making the final.

It was only the third Irish medal at this level and the first relay podium placing. On Sunday, Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) won to a superb silver medal in the high jump with a national U20 record of 1.90m.

Finn Valley’s Lecky was in sensational form all week and narrowly missed out on clearing 1.92m. Ireland had only ever won two medals at previous world U20 championships and they have now doubled that tally.

National Juvenile Athletics Championships, Tullamore

A lightning fast boys U17 100m with three boys under 11 seconds was just one highlight of at the second day of the National Juvenile Athletics Championships in Tullamore on Sunday (July 15).

In windy conditions, Michael Farrell of Raheny Shamrock was the winner in 10.82, followed by his Raheny club mate Sean L’Estrange in 10.90 and Cillian Griffin of Tralee Harriers in 10.99. Winning the U19 title with 10.99 was Shane Monagle of Tramore AC, while setting a new U19 girls 100m record of 12.03 was Lauren Cadden of Sligo AC.

In the U19 boys’ 400m, Tallaght’s Christopher Duffy just made it ahead of Tony O’Connor Naas AC, with the pair timed at 49.51 and 49.71. Pick of the girls’ races was the U18 final, where Simone Lalor of St LOT was the winner in 57.22, with Molly Brown of Metro St Brigid’s, who had won the 800m a day earlier, a close second in 57.38.

Over 3000m, Thomas McStay of Galway City Harriers won the U19 title in 8:43.25, with Keelan Kilrihill of Moy Valley AC second in 8:48.36. Laura Nicholson of Bandon AC was an untroubled winner of the U19 girls’ title in 10:11.61.

In the U17 boys’ javelin, Conor Cusack of Lake District Athlete threw a record 58.35m for victory. There was also a record in the U16 girls’ shot of 14.14m for Aoibheann McMahon of Blackrock Louth. Another in record breaking form was Ellen McNally, of Greystones and District, who won the girls’ U17 triple jump with a 10.70m leap in the final round.

A day earlier, in kinder weather conditions, Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers was a runaway winner of the U18 boys 800m in a new record time of 1:52.13.

The highlight of the girls’ 800m races was an U16 championships record of 2:11.63 from Aimee Hayde of Newport AC who dominated the race. Almost as fast in the U15 final was Emma Moore of Galway City Harriers who ran a time of 2:11.98 to smash Hayde’s record of 2:15.63. Sarah Hosey of Dooneen AC and Fiona Dillon of Thomastown AC were also inside the old record.

In the field, Karlis Kaugars of Dunleer AC set a boys U14 record of 55.63m in the javelin. Oisin Joyce 49.73 and Diarmuid Duff 48.20, both Lake District AC, who were second and third, also broke the previous record of 44.86m.

In the girls’ U17 discus, a throw of 41.04 for Ciara Sheehy of Emerald AC was also a championships best. Earlier, Sheehy had won the U17 shot putt (with 14.85m – not far off Michaela Walsh’s record of 15.13.

In the high jump, Aoife O’Sullivan of Liscarroll AC soared over 1.72m to equal Sommer Lecky’s record in the U16 girls’ high jump.

In a competitive girls’ U18 long jump, Sophie Meredith of St Mary’s Limerick came out on top with 5.85m, beating Ruby Millet of St Abban’s who jumped 5.79m.

Roisin O’Reilly of Menapians AC knocked a massive sixteen seconds off the previous record when winning the girls’ U17 2000m steeplechase in a time of 7:06.73

At the GV Ryan Irish Milers Club meet organised by Crusades AC in Irishtown Stadium, Dublin, Mark Milner won a competitive men’s A 800m in 1:52.24, followed by Clonliffe’s Cathal Doyle 1:52.67, Darren McBrearty of Letterkenny AC 1:52.79 and Alex Beddoes of the Cook Islands 1:52.96.

Dean Adams of Ballymena and Antrim won the A 100m in 10.94. First home in the A 400m was Jamie Mitchell of Emerald AC in 48.82, with DCH’s Catherine McManus first of the women in 54.89. A clear winer of the women’s 800m in 2:08.59 was Jenna Brommell of Emerald AC.

Tullamore’s Thomas Moran of Dunboyne AC won the Ronnie Delany 1500m in 1:459.88, beating Raheny’s Conor Dooney who was second in 3:50.64. Cian McPhillips of Longford AC had a solid victory in the 3000m in 8:18.91.

Roads

Freddy Sittuk was the winner of the Irish Runner 10-Mile held in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday (July 14). Sittuk finished in 52:43, with his Raheny Shamrock teammate Cillian O’Leary second in 52:56. Third was Tomas Fitzpatrick of Tallaght AC in 53:59.

Letterkenny’s Caitriona Jennings was first woman in 61:21, followed by Karen Alexander of Acorns AC 62:09 and Tara Kennedy-Monks of Raheny Shamrock in 64:00.

Rathfarnham’s Paul Fleming won the Dunleer 4-Mile on Sunday (July 15) in 21:37, with Catherina McKiernan of Annalee AC eighth overall and first woman in 22:45.

At the Youghal 5km on Thursday evening (July 12) Ferrybank’s Andrew Connick was first home in 15:36 with Aoife Cooke of the host club Youghal AC first woman taking her third successive victory in 17:30.

Mountain running

Zak Hanna of Newcastle and District won the Irish trial for the World Mountain Running Championships at Crone Woods in Co Wicklow on Saturday (July 14). The championships take place in Andorra in September.

Earlier this month, Hanna was best of the Irish at the European Championships in Macedonia where he finished 19th.

Masters

Joe Gough of West Waterford AC was in record-breaking form again at the Drogheda and District graded track meet last Thursday (July 12) when he shattered the Irish M65 record with a time of 4:55.10. The previous record of 5:08.87 was held by Willie Neenan of Cork.

That’s the Irish outdoor 400m, 800m and 1500m records broken by Gough so far this year. His major target this season is September’s World Masters in Malaga, Spain.

Mid-week results

Although he didn’t break the four-minute barrier, proud Tipperary man Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC ran a time of 4:04.48 to win the men’s mile at the Moyne AC 70th Anniversary Games, held on the club’s newly laid four-lane track on Thursday evening (July 12).

Tobin was on his own from 800m after the efforts of pacemaker William Hughes of Thurles Croke and was followed home by Damien Landers of Ennis TC who crossed the line in 4:14.99.

Target time in the women’s 800m was 2:05:00 and Amy O’Donoghue of Emerald AC came close, running a time of 2:06.57, which was just off her fastest ever time. Pushing O’Donoghue hard from the start was Stephanie Cotter from West Muskerry AC who was rewarded with a personal best time by three seconds of 2:07.24. There was also a personal best of 2:14.16 for Leevale’s Annette Quaid.

A 400m personal best of 49.25 for race winner Robert Bennett of Nenagh Olympic was another highlight of the meet. All athletes who competed were presented with a specially engraved medallion celebrating the club’s 70th anniversary.

The post History making weekend for Irish athletes appeared first on Fast Running.

After finishing eighth in the event at the Commonwealth Games last month, Adam Kirk-Smith of Derry Track Club won the men’s steeplechase at the Loughborough International on Sunday (May 20).

Kirk-Smith’s time of 8:48.09, although well off his personal best of 8:37.4, put him comfortably clear of Phil Norman who finished in 8:49.54.

A large Irish contingent was competing in Loughborough and in the women’s guest 400m, Cliodhna Manning of Kilkenny City Harriers came home first in 54 seconds. Second was Catherine McManus of Dublin City Harriers in 55.28. In a second race, Nessa Millett of St Abban’s, who competes in the European Club Championships division 1 next weekend, finished fourth in 55.97.

In heat 4 of the guest 100m, Gina Akpe-Moses of Birchfield Harriers, the European U20 100m champion, finished a close second in 11.64 secs – not far off her personal best of 11.56 secs set last year and comfortably inside the qualifying standard for the World U20 Championships.

Joan Healy of Bandon AC was third in 11.76 and Sarah Murray of Fingallians AC fifth in 11.98. Finishing fourth in heat two of the 200m series was Niamh Whelan of Ferrybank in 24.76 secs.

The Irish women’s team finished second in the 4x100m behind Great Britain in 44.81 secs; the Irish men’s team was disqualified.

Photo: Karen Kirk

In the opening heat of the guest 200m, Marcus Lawler of St LOT registered a European Championships qualifying mark of 20.79 secs when finishing second. Earlier, he had run 10.67 secs in the 100m.

Clonliffe’s Jeremy Phillips, who competes in the premier division of the European Clubs in Birmingham next weekend, finished fourth in the ‘official’ 200m with a time of 21.69 secs.

In the 1500m races, Ciara Everard from Kilkenny finished second of the women in 4:14.79 and Clonliffe’s Jayme Rossiter, who is also selected for the European Clubs, seventh of the men in 3:52.10.

Emma Mitchell of Queen’s clocked a time of 32:55.26 at the Night of 10,000 PBs hosted by Highgate Harriers in London. She finished 16th in the women’s elite race won by the Kenyan athlete Chemtai Lonah Salpeter who lives in and runs for Israel.

Ann-Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC finished 29th in 33:53.29, while in the B race, Shona Heaslip finished sixth in 33.24.00 and Fionnuala Ross ninth in 33:49.92.

In the men’s B race Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock finished 19th in 29:36.42, Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC 22nd in 29:49.51, and Sergiu Ciobanu 28th in 30:15.95.

In the European Cup 10,000m, which was incorporated into the event, both Irish teams finished sixth of the seven teams entered.

World Junior Championships B qualifying standards for Niamh Fogarty and Ciara Deely proved the highlight of the Leinster Schools Track and Field Championships held over two days in Santry.

In the senior discus, Fogarty’s throw of 49.31m was also a meet record, while Deeley won the 400m comfortably in 54.99 secs.

Winning the inter 100m and 200m was Rhasidat Adeleke of Presentation Terenure. In the 100m she was pushed hard by Patience Jumbo-Gula of St Vincent’s Dundalk, winning in 11.60 secs, with Jumbo-Gula clocking 11.68 secs; the record is a hand-timed 11.5 run by Michelle Walsh-Carroll in 1978.

Photo: Athletics Ireland/Sportsfile

She had a much clearer win in the 200m, finishing in 24.11 secs, with Jumbo-Gula second in 25.45 secs. That time broke Walsh-Carroll’s 40-year old record of 24.3 secs set in 1978.

Star of the boys’ senior competition was Eritrean-born Efram Gidey, a student at Le Cheile Secondary School in Tyrrelstown, who came to Ireland last year after a number of years spent in the Calais refugee camp. On his way to victory in 15 mins 24.43 secs, Gidey lapped the entire field. Over a minute behind for second was David Troy of Castleknock College in 16:38.84.

Double winners included David McDonald of CBS Wexford. He won the 100m in 10.82secs and also the 200m in 21.66 secs, despite a ferocious -3.2m/3 wind. Ciaran Carthy of St Michael’s at inter level and Jack Mitchell from Pres Carlow at senior level both notched up 400m and 400m hurdles doubles

At the Munster Schools Championships, Ciara Neville of Castletroy won the senior 200m in 24.39 secs and the 100m in 11.83 secs.

In the inter 800m, Aimee Hayde of St Mary’s SS Newport was the winner in 2:11.61 and also won the 1500m with a time of 4:46.97.

Charlie O’Donovan of Col Chriost Ri won the senior boys 500m in 4:05.08, with Darragh McElhinney of Col Pobail Bantry second in 4:11.26. A huge throw of 61.88k in the senior boys 6kg hammer gave Sea Mockler of CBS Thurles an emphatic victory. Mockler also won the discus with 43.91m. Winning the inter girls’ 3kg hammer with a 50.34 effort was Tirna Ni Cathail of Pobalscoil na Trionoide.

Northern Ireland athletes Leon Reid and Jason Smyth both had victories over the rarely-run 150 metres at the Great City Games in Manchester on Friday evening (May 18).

Paralympian superstar Smyth clocked 15.82 secs to take an emphatic victory in the T13 race, while Reid produced a strong finish to win his race in 15.52 secs.

Reid, who won a first athletics medal for Northern Ireland since 1990 at last month’s Commonwealth Games, is hoping that his long-awaited transfer from Britain to Ireland will finally come through in time for the European Championships in Berlin.

Roads

Dan Tanui of Derry Track Club was the winner of the Streets of Dublin 5km held around Dublin’s docklands on Sunday (May 20). Tanui finished in 14 mins 53 secs, inflicting a rare defeat on his fellow countryman Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC. Joseph O’Donohue of Crusaders AC was third. First woman was Maria Jones of Sportsworld AC.

In his second race in two days, Bantry’s Alan O’Shea won the River Moy Half Marathon in Ballina, Co Mayo, with a time of 68 mins 39 secs on Saturday (May 19).

O’Shea proved the class of the field winning by close to four minutes from local athlete Michael Canty. Heather Foley of North Sligo AC was the first woman in 85 mins 49 secs, with Colette Tuohy of Mayo AC second and first W45 in 89:45.

Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC was an emphatic winner of the Simon Cumbers and Paddy Hyland 6km, held in Navan on Friday evening (May 18).

Somba finished in 18 mins 30 secs with Raheny’s Brian Leahy over a minute behind for second. The first woman was Sinead Lambe of Donore Harriers in 22 mins 5 secs. Bohermeen’s Andrea McGuinness was second and first W40.

Bantry’s Alan O’Shea was the winner of the annual – and unique – Cheetah Run 5km held in Fota Wildlife Park, Co Cork on Thursday May 17. He finished in 15 minds 18 secs with Tim O’Connor of An Riocht AC second in 16.14. Aoife Cooke of Youghal AC was first woman in 18 mins 7 secs. Leevale’s Carol Finn was second.

Masters

Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock proved the star of the Irish team at the European Masters Road Championships in Alicante, Spain, when she won the W50 10km in 38.04.

That time would have won her the W45 title as well. Tommy Payne of Tinryland M60 and Evelyn McNelis of Naas AC W70 both finished fourth while Jackie Stamp of Kilmore was fifth W45.

A day later, Kealy helped the W35 cross-country team to second place. The men’s M35 team of Ian Egan M50, Ronan Kearns M40 and James Doran M35 finished fourth.

Best of the Irish in Sunday’s half marathon was James Doran of An Riocht AC who finished sixth overall in 72 mins 35 secs.

Off-road

TT Racers, a group of runners who train at lunchtime in Trinity College with coach Terry McConnon, won the annual Wicklow Way Relay for a record third consecutive year on Saturday (May 19).

TT Racers made a good start to the race and were leading until the fifth of eight legs when a navigational error saw previous winners Rathfarnham WSAF take over in front. Only on the 22km seventh leg did TT Racers pull ahead again, thanks to the efforts of Des Kennedy.

It was then left to Linda Byrne to bring the team home in an overall time of 7 hours 23 minutes. Second was Rathfarnham in 7 hrs 31 mins, while third was Crusaders AC in 7 hrs 55 mins. All 35 teams finished the relay.

The post Irish athletes impress on the track at home and in England appeared first on Fast Running.

Taking place at Athlone IT, the St Gerard’s Dundalk athlete was competing in the junior women’s category and recorded a personal best 1.79 in the high jump, which was worth 966 points. She was also the highest scorer on the day in the hurdles, shot put and long jump.

Her superb time of 2:20.8 in the 800m helped give her a total score of 4108 points, breaking Elizabeth Morland’s 2016 record of 4043 points.

Next major outing for O’Connor is April’s Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, where she will compete in the heptathlon, adding her special javelin and the 200 to the five pentathlon disciplines.

RELATED: Kate O’Connor: senior international and just 16-years-old

The closest finish of the day came in the senior women’s competition, where defending champion Amy McTeggart of Boyne AC battled it out with North Down’s Sarah Connolly, who had finished 12th in the British U20 Championships in Sheffield on January 7.

Connolly took an early lead with a time of 8.90 secs in her specialist 60m hurdles, by some way the fastest of the day. With a personal best 1.76m high jump, she increased her lead, although McTeggart began clawing her way back, with better results in the shot and long jump.

Only 99 points separated them with the 800m to go, but Connolly’s time of 2:32.1 proved enough and, with 3661 points, she beat McTeggart whose final score was 3636 by 25 points. Third with 3324 points was Naomi Morgan from City of Derry Spartans.

Although slightly off his winning score of last year, Shane Aston of Trim AC retained the men’s senior title with his long, jump, shot and high jump giving him the points he needed to beat the 2016 champion Rolus Olusa of Clonliffe Harriers. Aston finished with a score of 3503 compared to 3354 for Olusa.

Setting a new youth boys’ record of 3499 points was Brian Lynch of Old Abbey AC. This proved another closely-fought contest with Darragh Miniter of St Mary’s Clare second with 3458 points. Class of the field in the youth girls’ competition was Anna McCauley of City of Lisburn with 3841 points.

In the masters’ competition, winners were Trevor McGlynn of Omagh Harriers M35, Patrick Curran of Tallaght M40 and Tom O’Brien of Waterford AC M50. Only two master women competed with Geraldine Finnegan of North East Runners setting a new W50 record of 2926 points. Full results can be found here.

Indoors

Joan Healy of Bandon AC finished second in the 60m with a personal best of 7.34 secs at an indoor meet in Nantes, France on Saturday, January 20. The time puts her just .03 behind younger sister Phil and .04 off the 7.30 secs qualification mark for the World Indoors in March.

Sixth in the same race was European U20 100m champion Gina Akpe-Moses in 7.50 secs.

At the Kildare Indoor Championships in Athlone on Sunday, January 21, UCD scholarship athlete Claire Mooney ran a time of 2:02.3 for 800m. Behind her, Alanna Lally and Ellie Harnett, also UCD, ran times of 2:04.7 and 2:05.3 respectively over 800m.

Barry Keane ran 8:08.14 for fifth place in an indoor meet held in Bloomington Indiana on Friday, January 18. That puts him top of the 2018 rankings ahead of Youghal’s Fearghal Curtis who ran a personal best 8:17.06 in Nashville on 13 January.

Cross Country

Siobhra O’Flaherty of the St Lawrence O’Toole’s club in Carlow, finished 17th in the CrossCup cross-country in Hannut, Belgium on Sunday, January 21.

O’Flaherty finished with a time of 25 mins 41 secs. The winner was Birtukan Adamu of Ethiopia in 23.32. Donore’s Louis O’Loughlin finished sixth in the U18 boys’ race. Results can be found here.

Ultra running

For the second year, Irish ultra runner Carole Morgan has won the super-tough Spine Race along the Pennine Way.

Morgan reached the finish point in an overall time of 130 hours and 37 minutes for the 429km route from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland, tracing the backbone of England.

After completing 338km of the race, 2016 winner Eoin Keith from Dublin was leading the race when he hit heavy snow and was forced to pull out. Last year, Keith broke a rib early in the race which forced his retirement. His withdrawal meant a third victory for Czech ultra runner Pavel Paloncy, who finished in 109 hours 50 mins.

This year’s Spine Race was the toughest to date with severe weather forcing a 12-hour pause in the race, with the runners held at various check-points along the way.

Roads

Marathon man Sean Hehir was a comfortable winner of the men’s five-mile race at the BHAA Cross-Country in Firhouse, Dublin on Saturday, January 20.

Hehir’s time of 26 mins 55 secs saw him finish well clear of second-placed Dermot McDermott who was second in 27:47. First woman and eight overall was Laura Shaughnessy in 29:28. Winner of the shorter women’s only 2.5 mile race was Irene Gorman in 12:50.

Eamon McAndrew and Heather Foley both of North Sligo AC were the winners of the Tuam 8km on Sunday, January 21. McAndrew won the race in 26 mins 53 secs; Foley clocked a time of 30.46.

Armagh 5k International Road Race

John Travers of Donore Harriers, Mayo’s Hugh Armstrong, David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers and Matt Bergin of DSD, who ran a 10km PB of 29 mins 25 secs at the Telford 10km, will represent Ireland in the men’s race at the Armagh 5k on Thursday, February 15.

Kilcoole’s Una Britton, Ciara Durkan of Skerries AC, Siobhra O’Flaherty of StLOT) and Laura Nicholson from Bandon AC go in the women’s 3k international race.

Scotland’s Callum Hawkins has also been announced for the Armagh event and more about that can be found here.

The post Kate O’Connor breaks records in Athlone appeared first on Fast Running.

The 18-year-old’s 100m win at the European under-20 Championships, on July 21, was not only a huge personal achievement, but it also represented Ireland’s first European women’s sprint gold at U20, U23 or senior level. When you ask about the achievement, the Nigerian-born and Irish-raised Akpe-Moses humbly says, she’s “happy with what she managed to achieve this season.”

Humility is a refreshing trait to see in someone as talented as the top women’s under-20 sprinter in Europe, and should stand by her on the journey towards next year’s World U20 Championships and the Toyko Olympic Games in 2020.

Now, two months on from her European win, let’s set the medal down for a moment, and get to know the person that bit better.

Outside of sport, who do you look up to?
Outside of sport, it’s my mum. She is a very strong character, and over the years has really shown me that fear is nothing but an obstacle, and once you overcome it, you’re literally unstoppable.

I adore her perseverance and I try to use that when I’m out on the track.

And in sprinting and athletics?
I know it’s such a typical answer, but I do look up to Usain Bolt. I just admire the fact that he’s defeated all the odds he faced and it makes me feel like anything is possible.

Your faith in God, what does it bring to your racing?
My faith plays a huge role in racing, it brings me peace on the track and it’s a type of reassurance that everything will be ok no matter what happens.

It completely changed the perspective I have of my races and how I approach each of them. Now, before a race, I just think that whatever happens, happens, and God’s timing is the best timing, so just go out and run your best.

Recently you raced against world silver medalists Asha Philip and Desiree Henry at the Great North CityGames. How did you find the experience?
I found the experience exciting, but I still tried to keep a cool head because if I had got too carried away, I wouldn’t have been able to focus. It was a good experience being up against the best and hopefully, it was a little taste of what’s yet to come.

Afterwards, Asha Philip and Desiree Henry just congratulated me on my race and said I should enjoy the sport while I can.

Back in 2014, you and your family moved to Birmingham, from Dundalk, Ireland. How do they compare?
Compared to Dundalk, Birmingham is a lot bigger and busier of course. I feel like I have more opportunities in Birmingham and as a large city, Birmingham offers better facilities for training.

Dundalk is quiet and chilled and I enjoy that, but I also like the way Birmingham is busy and there’s always something to do.

In Birmingham, you now train with Birchfield Harriers, one of the biggest clubs in the UK, and are coached by Andy Paul. What’s that like?
I love running for Birchfield Harriers, they’re a very supportive club and it’s a friendly environment. I train with the likes of Jake Porter, Kyle de Escofet and some other top athletes, so it’s a very competitive group, but it’s exciting and encourages me to run harder and better.

Andy is a very good coach and we have a very solid athlete and coach relationship. I think what I’ve learnt from him most over the last few years is just to believe in myself and that has helped give me mentality needed to compete against the best.

My coaches at previous clubs, Blackrock AC and St Gerard’s AC in Ireland, have also massively contributed to where I am now, and I would describe them all being helpful, encouraging, motivated and hard working.

College currently, hoping for university next year and aspiring for the top sprinting accolades. Is it a balancing act?
Being in my last year of college, there’s more pressure to make sure I get into the university I want, and importantly making sure I get the decision right.

I train six days in the week, so from Monday to Thursday I’m training and at college, but on Friday I have a break from training and get back to it the weekend. This autumn and winter it has changed a bit and I’ve now three gym sessions instead of the two, but a similar routine.My coach has also made sure that training doesn’t clash by working around my college timetable. Thankfully, because I’ve been balancing training, racing and other aspects of my life for a while now I am used to the routine and have found what works for me.

What do you think of the exciting new generation of Irish sprinters?
I think the new generation of Irish sprinting in very very talented and I’m really keen to see what the future holds. Patience Jumbo-Gula is an exciting talent you should keep an eye on, I’ve known her for years and we used to be training partners. She also recently medalled in the 100m at the European Youth Olympics.

Looking at the junior world sprinters, who do see as your competition?
To be honest, I see everyone as competition who is at the same or at a higher level. There is no one specific main rival, I think we are all equal and chasing the same dream.

If you could go for a run with anyone, who would it be?
I would go for a run with Michael Johnson, I just feel like he’s filled with so much knowledge and I’d be able to learn a lot from him.

Preferred distance, 100m or 200m?
I like them both equally, but I’m not as strong on the 200m as I am in the 100m, but I still love to run it.

Next year it is the World U20 Championships in Finland, and following that it’s the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020. Clearly your goals?
As long as I qualify, I will just approach Finland with the same relaxed mentality that I had for European Championships. I’m not going to expect too much but just going to go and execute all the rounds.

Tokyo 2020 is definitely in my plans for the future but I’m not focusing on it too much at the minute, I’m just taking each of the next three years as stepping stones, and step by step making sure I’m improving towards 2020.

The post Gina Akpe-Moses: “fear is nothing but an obstacle, and once you overcome it, you’re literally unstoppable” appeared first on Fast Running.

The unique race which took place on a tailor-made running track on the bank of the River Tyne, featured a line-up of four, including two members of Britain’s world silver medal relay quartet Asha Philip and Desiree Henry.

Akpe-Moses didn’t have the best of starts out of the blocks, but showed determination to battle back and close the gap in the final stretch.

Great Britain’s Henry took the win in 11.61 with Philip second in 11.65, with South Africa’s Carina Horn third.

Akpe-Moses, the European U20 champion crossed the line in 11.92.

The experience of racing against two world medalists marks another milestone in the teenage sprinter’s exciting track career so far.

Philip and Henry, who were instrumental members of Great Britain’s 4x100m relay team at the World Championships in London have season’s best 11.14 and 11.09 respectively, with Akpe-Moses’ lifetime and season’s best 11.56 (0.16 seconds outside of the Irish national record).

Akpe-Moses now turns her attention to next season with the first goal to secure qualification for the World Junior Championships in Finland.

The post Strong Performance from Gina Akpe-Moses at the Great North CityGames appeared first on Fast Running.

Akpe-Moses made headlines this summer after taking the 100m gold at the European U20 Championships in Grosseto, Italy, to become the best women’s under-20 sprinter in Europe.

The 18-year-old’s victory was also a historic moment for Ireland, clinching the country’s first European women’s sprint gold at U20, U23 or senior level.

While the atmosphere will be a fairly friendly in this end of season race, stepping on to the track to face sprinters at the level of British duo Asha Philip and Desiree Henry and South Africa’s Carina Horn, represents the next big stage in Akpe-Moses’s track career.

Philip and Henry, who were instrumental members of Great Britain’s silver medal winning quartet at the World Championships in London have season’s best 11.14 and 11.09 respectively, compared to Akpe-Moses’ lifetime and season’s best 11.56 (0.16 seconds outside of the Irish national record).

“This is a whole new experience for me but as much as I am nervous, I’m also really excited to be taking part and I’m ready to run the best that I can,” said Akpe-Moses when we asked her about racing at the Great North CityGames.

Following the unique race on the tailor-made running track on the bank of the River Tyne, Akpe-Moses, who is now based in England and runs with Birmingham club, Birchfield Harriers, turns her attention on qualification for next year’s World Junior Championships.

Regardless of the finishing place in Saturday’s race, the experience and lessons learned from lining up with sprinters of this calibre is another important step in the 18-year-old sprinter’s exciting track career.

The women’s 100m race is scheduled for 1.25pm and live coverage is available on the BBC from 1.15pm.

The Great North CityGames also includes field events, 150m sprint action, 500m and mile races. Previews of the sprint races can be found here, while middle distance previews can found here.

The post Gina Akpe-Moses set for 100m test at Great North CityGames appeared first on Fast Running.

Kicking off the Great North Run weekend of sporting events is the unique CityGames on Saturday, ahead of the Great North Run, which features Mo Farah in the half marathon field, on Sunday.

The CityGames will bring athletics action directly to fans with a tailor-made sports complex set-up on the bank of the River Tyne.

World record holder Merritt, who finished fifth at the recent World Championships in London, returns for a third time and looks the main man in the 110m hurdles.

Aiming to challenge the American Olympic champion, are compatriot Jarrett Eaton, Great Britain’s Jake Porter and Czech Petr Svoboda.

Britain’s fastest woman, Asher-Smith, will line up in a special 150m race hoping to close out her impressive season in winning fashion.

The 21-year-old who broke her foot at the beginning of the year, delivered an outstanding solo performance to finish fourth in the 100m at the Wolrd Championships, before going on to bag a silver medal as part of a British 4x100m quartet.

Asher-Smith’s main challengers are compatriot Bianca Williams and Naomi Sedney of the Netherlands.

Two further members of GB’s silver winning sprint relay team, Asha Philip and Desiree Henry will line up in the women’s 100m race.

The British duo will face Ireland’s sprint prodigy Gina Akpe-Moses and South Africa’s Carina Horn.

Teenager Akpe-Moses made headlines in July when she clinched the 100m gold with a tremndous performance at the European U20 Championship in Grosseto, Italy.

While the atmosphere on Saturday will be friendly, it’s the first time the 18-year-old lines up with athletes of the calibire of British duo Philip and Henry.

“This is a whole new experience for me but as much as I am nervous, I’m also really excited to be taking part and I’m ready to run the best that I can,” said Akpe-Moses.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 150m race Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake goes head-to-head with the man that shows no signs of ageing, Kim Collins.

World champion Mitchell-Blake, who ran the anchor leg of GB’s winning 4x100m men’s relay team at the World Championships in London has a 100m season’s best of 9.99, while 41-year-old Collins’ best this year is 10.20.

Joining the sprint pair on the pop-up track are Britain’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and American Ameer Webb.

Other British athletes taking part across the remaining GreatCity Games events include the world 5,000m finalist Andy Butchart, Tiffany Porter, Lynsey Sharp, British 100m champion Reece Prescod and Paralympic gold medallist Jonnie Peacock.

All events at the Great North CityGames are free to attend, and the action will also be broadcast live on BBC One from 1.15pm.

The post Star Athletes Set for Great North CityGames appeared first on Fast Running.

The 18 year old sprinter produced a commanding performance to win in 11.71 seconds, beating Germany’s Keshia Kwadwo to the gold.

Akpe-Moses spoke to Athletics Ireland after the race, reflecting on her success.

Interview with champ and gold medal draped around her neck. Gina Akpe-Moses reflects further on 100m gold pic.twitter.com/bOViC3thAs

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 21, 2017

Irish teammate Ciara Neville was slightly disappointed with finishing 7th in 11.98, marking a magnificent achievement for Irish athletics to have two sprinters in a final at this level.

Watch footage of the 100m women’ final here.

The post VIDEO: Ireland gold medal sprinter reflects further on 100m win appeared first on Fast Running.

The 18-year-old made a good start before powering home over the last 20 metres to take the win in 11.71, finishing ahead of Germany’s Keshia Kwadwo in 11.75, and Norway’s Ingvild Meinseth in 11.77.

Britain’s 17-year-old Olivia Okoli finished 4th in 11.86, with Ireland’s Ciara Neville finishing 7th in 11.98.

The fact that Akpe-Moses and Neville reached the final, is a significant achievement for Ireland in itself, given that its 38 years since two Irish sprinters have made it into one at this level.

Following the star performance, a delighted Gina Akpe-Moses said: “I hoped to get a medal, and eventually the dream came true.

“In the semi-finals I started thinking I could jump on the podium, but only in the last 20m of the final I had the thought ‘I can get the gold medal’.”

Gina Akpe-Moses on being the 100m European U20 champ! #grosseto2017 pic.twitter.com/siamcYuRk0

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 21, 2017

The U20 European Championships are taking place from the 20th to 23rd July.

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