It was a night to remember for Irish athletics as Rhasidat Adeleke stormed to gold in the girls 200m final and Sophie O’Sullivan sped to silver over 800m at the European U18 Championships in Gyor, Hungary (July 7).

Tallaght athlete Adeleke blitzed the bend and gave her rivals a clean pair of heels as she won the gold in 23.52 – a new personal best that sparked a tearful and jubilant celebration.

A brilliant run from Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200m final at the European U18 Championships to claim Ireland's second gold medal of the event! pic.twitter.com/wDZed643Dk

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 7, 2018

“I’m lost for words, I really wasn’t expecting that,” said Adeleke afterwards. “You work all year, there will be doubts and things that will bring you down but coming out with the gold is crazy.”

If that wasn’t enough for one night, O’Sullivan, the daughter of Irish legend Sonia, was dancing on the line before the start of the 800m final and then pursued to battle for a brilliant silver medal in a new personal best of 2:06.05.

Photo: European Athletics via Getty Images

Ireland has now won three medals at the European U18 Championships with Sarah Healy having already won gold in the 3000m on Friday night. Healy will step onto the track again on Sunday aiming to win another gold in the 1500m. The Blackrock youngster is the strong favourite with her personal best this year (4:09.25), 10 seconds quicker than her rivals.

Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday evening Miriam Daly finished sixth in her 400m hurdles semi-final in 61.35, a personal best, and finished 10th overall.

Louis O’Loughlin finished sixth in his semi-final of the 800m in 1:55.22.

Brian Lynch finished 24th at the halfway stage in the boys’ decathlon with a total of 3,338 points. His leading marks were: 100m 11.61, long jump 6.74m, shot put 12.84m, high jump 1.76m and 400m 53.12.

The closing day of action from Gyor can be watched live on Eurosport 2 and on the European Athletics website. The timetable for each day can be found here and results here.

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Sophie O’Sullivan, the daughter of Irish Olympic silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan, announced herself in the green of Ireland with a debut win in the heats of the 800m at the European U18 Championships in Gyor, Hungry on Thursday (July 5).

The 16 year-old kicked in the closing stages to power past two rivals and took the win in 2.12.23 to secure an automatic qualifying spot for the semi-finals on Friday.

How about that for a championship debut?

Sophie O'Sullivan, daughter of 1998 European 5000m and 10,000m champion Sonia O'Sullivan, won the second heat of the 800m at the European U18 Championships. pic.twitter.com/EHD30KaGFR

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 5, 2018

Last year O’Sullivan, who has both Irish and Australian citizenship, raced in Ireland for the first time and won under-17 gold over 1500m at the Irish National Juvenile Championships. Earlier in 2017, she also won Australian U17 titles over 800m and 1500m.

We caught up with Ireland's Sophie O'Sullivan after she qualified for the 800m semifinals from a tactical heat. pic.twitter.com/AR73EekJyb

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) July 5, 2018

Also impressing for Ireland on the first of four days of action in Gyor was sprinter Patience Jumbo-Gula who ran a championship record in the girls’ 100m semi-finals in 11.59 seconds.

Jumbo-Gula sped to victory with an excellent start with the wind reading +0.7m/s and runs in Friday’s final at 7:09pm Irish time.

Conor Morey (Leevale) went in semi-final one of the 100m where there was a false start but a late recall gun saw him and some of the others run the full race. It was subsequently rerun 10 minutes later where he came 6th in 11.17 – evidently tired having two 100m races in quick succession.

Israel Olatunde (Dundealgan) finished 5th in the second semi-final in 11.09 seconds.

There was some misfortune in both the 1500m and 100m for the boys.  Cian McPhillips (Longford) was placed well in a tactical affair in heat one of the 1500m but lost his spike after two laps resulting in a 14th place finish in 4:10.84.

Brian Maguire (DSD) battled well in heat two of the 1500m finishing 10th in 3:59.74.

A preview of the Irish athletes competing can be found here.

All of the action from Gyor can be watched live on Eurosport 2 and on the European Athletics website. The timetable for each day can be found here and results here.

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A 23-strong Irish team is set to take on the best from the continent at the European Athletics U18 Championships that begins today (Thursday, July 5) in Gyor, Hungary.

Sarah Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Cian McPhillips are also among with medals in their sights in the second edition of the competition.

17 year-old Healy tops the 1500m rankings by 10 seconds after her recent 4:09.25 run Tubingen, Germany. It was the fastest run in 32 years by a European youth athlete.

Adeleke heads the rankings for the 100m and is fifth on the 200m list. She is selected for the 200m with Patience Jumbo Gula selected for the 100m.

Longford’s McPhillips is another leading light on the rankings and he is second in the 1500m with his time of 3:49.85.

The teenager daughter of Irish legend Sonia O’Sullivan, who has both Irish and Australian citizenship, will make her international debut in the 800m.

Europe’s best young athletes from 50 nations will be in action over the four-day competition and Ireland’s full team can be found here.

Day one preview (Thursday, July 5)

There are 14 Irish athletes involved on day one seeking progression into the latter stages of the competition.

O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) competes in the 800m heat three and Molly Brown (MSB) in heat six. In the girls’ 800m there will be three rounds with the first three and three next fastest advancing to the semi-finals.

The 1500m for boys has the qualification of first four and next four fastest for the final with McPhillips (Longford) in heat one and Brian Maguire (DSD) in heat two.

Sprinters Simone Lalor (St Laurence O’Toole) goes in heat three of the girls 400m. Conor Morey (Leevale) and Israel Olatunde (Dundealgan) compete in heat two and heat three respectively in the 100m with the first three and six next fastest advancing to the semi-finals later in the evening.

Patience Jumbo Gula (St Gerard’s Dundalk) then goes in the girls’ 100m where she currently tops the rankings with the first three and three next fastest advancing to the semis.

Sarah Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) and Emily MacHugh (Naas) are in action in the 5km race walk.

In the field events, Miranda Tcheutchoua (Lusk) is the first athlete to don the green singlet. The athlete, now based in Canada, competes in group B of the hammer.

Conor Cusack (Lake District) throws in the javelin with 70.00m the automatic or 12 best performances for the final.

There is a duo also in the girls’ long jump with Sophie Meredith (St Mary’s) in Group A and Ruby Millet (St Abban’s) in Group B.

All of the action from Gyor can be watched live on Eurosport 2 and on the European Athletics website. The timetable for each day can be found here and results here.

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Sophie O’Sullivan has been named in the Irish squad for the European under-18 Championships in Gyor, Hungary, which take place from July 5-8.

The teenager daughter of Irish legend Sonia O’Sullivan, who has both Irish and Australian citizenship, will make her international debut in the 800m.

O’Sullivan raced in Ireland last summer winning three times in seven days, the crowning moment being under-17 gold over 1500m at the Irish National Juvenile Championships.

Earlier in 2017, she also won Australian U17 titles over 800m and 1500m.

Sarah Healy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and Cian McPhillips are also among the 23 strong team set for the Youth Championships.

17 year-old Healy tops the 1500m rankings by 10 seconds after her superb 4:09.25 run Tubingen, Germany last weekend. It was the fastest run in 32 years by a European youth athlete.

The fastest U18 European in 32 years!

17 year-old Sarah Healy smashed not only the Irish U18 1500m record but is now the second fastest European youth of all-time!https://t.co/XVwY3zCVNQ

— Fast Running (@FastRunning_) June 17, 2018

Adeleke, heads the rankings for the 100m and is fifth on the 200m list. She is selected for the 200m with Patience Jumbo Gula selected for the 100m.

Longford’s McPhillips is another leading light on the rankings and he is second in the 1500m with his time of 3:49.85.

In terms of number breakdown, 15 of the team are girls and eight are boys.

Meanwhile, an Irish U20 team has been selected for the Mannheim Gala this weekend (June 23 and 24). The team is headed by European U20 100m champion Gina Akpe-Moses.

Irish team for European U18 Championships

Girls
Patience Jumbo-Gula (St. Gerard’s AC) 100m & Medley Relay, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) 200m & Medley Relay, Simone Lalor (St. LO’T AC) 400m & Medley Relay, Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) 800m, Molly Brown (Metro St. Brigids AC) 800m, Sarah Healy (Blackrock AC) 1500m, Miriam Daly (Carrick-on-Suir AC) 400m hurdles & Medley Relay, Sarah Glennon (Mullingar Harriers AC) 5km Race Walk, Emily MacHugh (Naas AC) 5km Race Walk, Ruby Millet (St. Abban’s AC) Long Jump, Sophie Meredith (St. Mary’s AC) Long Jump, Ciara Kennelly (Killarney Valley AC) High Jump, Miranda Tcheutchoua (Lusk AC) Hammer, Adeyemi Talabi (Longford AC) Medley Relay, Rachel McCann (North Down AC) Medley Relay

Boys
Conor Morey (Leevale AC) 100m, Israel Olatunde (Dundealgan AC) 100m, Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers AC) 800m, Cian McPhillips (Longford AC) 1500m, Brian Maguire (DSD AC) 1500m, Oisin Lane (Mullingar Harriers AC) 10km Race Walk, Conor Cusack (Lake District AC) Javelin, Brian Lynch (Old Abbey AC) Decathlon

Irish U20 team for Mannheim Gala, Germany (June 23-24)
Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock Louth) 200M & 4X100M, Ciara Neville (Emerald) 100M & 4X100M, Patience Jumbo Gula (St Gerard’s Dundalk) 100M & 4X100M, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght) 200M & 4X100M, Molly Scott (SLOT) 100MH & 4X100M, Davicia Patterson (Beechmount Harriers) 400M & 4X400M, Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) 400M & 4X400M, Miriam Daly (Carrick on Suir) 400Mh & 4X400M, Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) high jump, Niamh Fogarty (North Westmeath) discus, Sophie Meredith (St Mary’s Limerick) long jump, Ruby Millet (St Abban’s) long jump, Simone Lalor (SLOT) 4 x 400m, Aaron Sexton (North Down) 100M & 4X100M. David McDonald (Menapians) 200M & 4X100M, David Murphy (Gowran) 100M & 4X100M, Michael McCauley (Ballymena & Antrim) 100M & 4X100M, Jack Dempsey (Galway City Harriers) 200M & 4X100M

The post Sophie O’Sullivan set to make Irish debut appeared first on Fast Running.

In a competitive field in Cork city tonight (July 18) the 15 year-old ran impressively to win the 800m Junior Women’s race in 2:13.84.

Sophie’s win at the Cork City Sports International Athletics meet, made it a hat-trick of wins in a matter of seven days in Ireland.

Sophie’s mother Sonia O’Sullivan, was a proud spectator once again, this time in her home county, Cork.

@soniaagrith and Marcus O’Sullivan, enjoying the sunshine, big crowds and great competition at @CorkCitySports pic.twitter.com/HSYDJQBeZf

— Cork City Sports (@CorkCitySports) July 18, 2017

The most impressive of Sophie’s victories, was on Sunday at the Irish National Juvenile Championships. The young athlete put in an impressive display to claim the U17 1500m title in 4.41.80, a title which her mother Sonia won 32 years ago.

Girls U17 1500m:
1. Sophie O’Sulllivan (@BallymoreCobhAC)
2. Maeve Gallagher (Swinford A.C.)
3. Annie McEvoy (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) pic.twitter.com/K7j8NTNmYE

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 16, 2017

The first win, in a standout seven days for Sophie was last Wednesday at the Morton Games in Dublin, where the young athlete won the 800m B race to the delight of Irish athletics fans.

Earlier this year, Australia based Sophie also picked up the Australian U17 800m and 1500m National Championships.

Back at the Cork City Sports International meet, in the women’s 200m Canada’s Crystal Emmanuel set a new Canadian national record of 22.50. In the same race Irish sprinter Phil Healy ran impressively to a personal best of 23.32.

The men’s mile race saw a few familiar faces from last week’s Morton Games in Dublin. Irish athlete, Sean Tobin, ran his second sub 4 minute mile in a week, crossing the line in 3:57.00 to finish in third. The race was won by American Sam Prakel in 3:55.89, with Australia’s Stewart McSweyn finishing second in 3:55.97.

The post 3 wins in 7 days for Sonia O’Sullivan’s daughter Sophie appeared first on Fast Running.

The Daughter of Irish legend Sonia O’Sullivan, a world champion and Olympic silver medallist over 5,000m, showed why she is tipped for future success in athletics, with a comfortable win the in women’s 800m B race in Morton Stadium.

Sophie who has duel Australian and Irish citizenship, has already achieved Austrilan U17 national championships over 800m and 1500m.

Young O’Sullivan, ran the perfect race, patiently sitting back, before kicking over the last 200m to take the win.

She crossed the line in a time of 2:11:13, over a second ahead of her nearest challenger.

The post Like Mother, Like Daughter! Sonia O’Sullivan 15 year old daughter wins at Morton Stadium appeared first on Fast Running.