Mawdsley to compete at star-studded National Athletics Championships

The Newport AC European relay gold medallist will compete in the 200m on Saturday.

The countdown is on to the 152nd edition of the 123.ie National Senior Track and Field Championships which take place at Morton Stadium, Santry, this Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th June.

This year’s championships are being viewed as one of the most anticipated in recent years given the success enjoyed by Irish athletes at European Championships in Rome, coupled with the proximity to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The longest consecutive running national senior championships in the world promises to deliver a superb weekend of athletics action with many of Ireland’s leading athletes set to take their place.

A host of stars are already entered including some of the medallists from that record-breaking six days in Rome, including Newport’s own Sharlene Mawdsley who is foregoing defending her 400m title and will instead compete in the 200m on Saturday.

Fellow relay team members Thomas Barr (400mH), Christopher O’Donnell (400m), Phil Healy (200m & 400m), Lauren Cadden & Sophie Becker (400m) will also compete while Ciara Mageean and Rhasidat Adeleke are yet to register entries, but it looks likely that both will be added to the entry list.

Sarah Lavin currently holds entries in the 100mH (Saturday) and 100m (Sunday) while Israel Olatunde is entered in the 100m as he looks to make it four-in-a-row. Nenagh Olympic’s Lauren Frawley will also compete in the 100mH.

There is much intrigue around the 1500m races which will be revealed when final entries are confirmed with Sophie O’Sullivan (1500m), Sarah Healy (1500m & 800m), and a potential appearance from a certain European champion sure to headline proceedings. Nenagh Olympic runners Aoife Delargy and Jennifer O’Leary will also compete in the 1500m.

The field events are not short of stars of their own with Nicola Tuthill (hammer) entered in the hammer on the back of her recent European top-10, while the exciting jumps duo of Reece Ademola and Elizabeth Ndudi also both hold entries for their respective long jump competitions.

Other local entries include:

Men’s 100m - Joe Burke, Liam Meade (Templemore), Evan Tully (Birr), Jack Hickey, Alex Ryan, Ronan Ryan (Nenagh Olympic)

Men’s 200m – Jack Hickey, Ronan Ryan (Nenagh Olympic), Joe Burke (Templemore)

Men’s 400m Hurdles – Stuart Tobin (Nenagh Olympic)

Women’s 400m – Sophie Walker (Newport)

Men’s 400m – Padraic Hassett, Stuart Tobin, Paul White (Nenagh Olympic), David Ryan (Moycarkey/Coolcroo)

Men’s 800m – Ted Collins, Sean Hayes, Daire O’Donnell (Nenagh Olympic)

Women’s 800m – Aoife Delargy, Jennifer O’Leary, Sarah Lane (Nenagh Olympic)

Men’s 1500m – Cian Hodgins, James Tanner (Nenagh Olympic)

Men’s 5000m – Sean Tobin (Clonmel)

High Jump: Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic)

Javelin - Laura Frawley (Nenagh Olympic)

Shot Putt - Sarah Fajer (Nenagh Olympic)

Triple Jump - Anna Ryan (Moycarkey/Coolcroo), Brendan Lynch (Nenagh Olympic)

Long Jump - Laura Frawley, Joseph Miniter (Nenagh Olympic)

Weight for Height - William O’Meara, Patrick O’Meara (Birr AC), Larry O’Grady (Mooreabbey Milers)

Weight for Distance - Laura Frawley (Nenagh Olympic)

Discus - Claire Kennedy (Birr), John Dwyer (Templemore)

Hammer - Claire Kennedy (Birr), Liam Bergin, John Dwyer (Templemore), Brian Naughton (Nenagh Olympic), Sean Mockler (Moycarkey/Coolcroo)

Pole Vault - Ava Rochford, Aaron Malik (Nenagh Olympic)

4x400m Relay - Nenagh Olympic, men and women

Go to the Athletics Ireland website for full time-table and list of entries. Tickets can be purchased online at eventmaster.ie. Single Day Ticket - €11; Two Day Ticket - €17; Early Bird Two Day Ticket - €15; U16s – Free.

There will also be live coverage on RTE on Sunday from 1.00 to 2.30pm