Irish athletes are competing across multiple venues this week as the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the European Aquatics Championships in Paris get underway, with live coverage broadcast on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, according to RTÉ reporting.
Track and Field Openers in Birmingham
Competition at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham began on Monday, August 10th, with several qualification sessions. In the women’s 100m heats, Ciara Neville secured a spot in the semi-finals, while teammate Lauren Roy did not progress, as reported by RTÉ. Jack Raftery advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s 400m heats. In the men’s 800m heats, Mark English advanced to the semi-finals, while Cian McPhillips missed out on progression. Eric Favors earned a spot in the men’s shot put final during the morning qualification round.
The Monday evening schedule in Birmingham featured Nicola Tuthill in the women’s hammer throw qualification, Sarah Lavin in the women’s 100m hurdles, and Ciara Neville returning for the women’s 100m semi-final. Eric Favors competed in the men’s shot put final, while Brian Fay, Nick Griggs, and Darragh McElhinney raced in the men’s 5,000m. Abbie Sheridan closed out the evening athletics slate in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase qualification.
Action continues Tuesday, August 11th, with Israel Olatunde and Toluwabori Akinola lining up for the men’s 100m morning heats. The evening session features Sarah Healy in the women’s 5,000m and Jack Raftery in the men’s 400m semi-finals. Mid-week competition brings Sophie Becker to the women’s 400m heats on Wednesday, August 12th, followed by Rhasidat Adeleke and Lauren Roy in the women’s 200m heats, and Mark English in the men’s 800m semi-finals, according to the schedule published by RTÉ.
Swimming and Aquatics Heats in Paris
At the European Aquatics Championships in Paris, Monday morning’s swimming heats included Grace Davison (22nd), Rosalie Phelan (34th), Victoria Catterson (37th), and Danielle Farrell (41st in 55.96 seconds) in the women’s 100m freestyle, with none advancing. Lottie Cullen finished 16th in the women’s 200m backstroke heats to qualify for the semi-finals. In the men’s 50m butterfly, Matthew Hamilton finished 64th and did not progress. Jack Kelly placed fourth in the men’s 100m breaststroke heats to reach the semi-finals, while Darragh Greene, Eoin Corby, and Adam Bradley missed out. Liam Custer placed 17th in the men’s 400m individual medley heats. The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team of Evan Bailey, John Shortt, Cormac Rynn, and Daniel Wiffen finished 11th in the heats and did not advance.
During Monday evening’s swimming session in Paris, Lottie Cullen placed 12th in the women’s 200m backstroke semi-finals and did not advance. Jack Kelly finished second in his semi-final heat of the men’s 100m breaststroke to secure a place in the final, as detailed by RTÉ.
Tuesday’s swimming schedule in Paris features Ellen Walshe, Rosalie Phelan, and Alana Burns-Atkin in the women’s 50m butterfly heats. Evan Bailey and Matthew Hamilton contest the men’s 100m freestyle heats, while Mona McSharry and Ellie McCartney race in the women’s 100m breaststroke heats. John Shortt enters the men’s 200m backstroke heats, and Daniel Wiffen, Nathan Wiffen, and Liam Custer take on the men’s 800m freestyle heats. Jack Kelly returns for the men’s 100m breaststroke final on Tuesday evening.
Schedule Highlights for Later in the Week
Competition across both host cities extends through the end of the week. Thursday, August 13th, features Sean Aigboboh and Marcus Lawler in the men’s 200m athletics heats in Birmingham, alongside preliminary swimming rounds in Paris including the men’s 200m freestyle and women’s 200m breaststroke. Friday, August 14th, marks the start of the women’s heptathlon with Kate O’Connor competing in the 100m hurdles, high jump, and shot put, alongside the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay heats and the men’s 1,500m heats.
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