The Ireland squad for the upcoming European Athletics Indoor Championships from 6-9 March has been named.
The team will be spearheaded in the individual events by a host of Olympians including Sharlene Mawdsley (400m), Sarah Healy (3000m), Jodie McCann (3000m), Sarah Lavin (60mH), Kate O'Connor (pentathlon), Andrew Coscoran (1500m), and Cathal Doyle (1500m).
Four-time European championship medallist Mark English also returns to international action and is selected in the 800m following his record-breaking performance earlier this season.
James Gormley will make his senior Irish debut alongside the aforementioned Andrew Coscoran in the 3000m, while recent national 60m champion Bori Akinola will don the Irish singlet for the first time as a senior individual athlete.
Lauren Cadden (Sligo AC) also earns her first senior international vest as an individual and will be eager to put in a bold showing in the women’s 400m as she looks to stake a claim on a strong looking women’s relay team.
Two competitive looking relay teams in both the mixed and women’s 4x400m will look to continue to the rise of Irish relay. Both squads can call upon the experience of Olympic finalists Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley as they bid to make yet another major championship final.
The final selection includes athletes who have been confirmed as qualified by rank by European Athletics and completes an Irish team who will start to depart for Apeldoorn early next week.
Ireland squad:
- Sharlene Mawdsley 400m, women's 4x400m, mixed 4x400m
- Sarah Healy 3,000m
- Sarah Lavin 60m hurdles
- Kate O’Connor pentathlon
- Mark English 800m
- Cian McPhillips 800m
- Andrew Coscoran 3,000m
- James Gormley 3,000m
- Phil Healy women’s 4x400m, mixed 4x400m
- Rachel McCann women’s 4x400m, mixed 4x400m
- Cliodhna Manning women’s 4x400m
- Lauren Cadden women’s 4x400m
- David Bosch mixed 4x400m
- Marcus Lawler mixed 4x400m;
- Arlene Crossan women’s 4x400m
- Conor Kelly mixed 4x400m
- Jodie McCann 3,000m
- Bori Akinola 60m
- Cathal Doyle 1,500m
