Athletics Ireland has selected six athletes to compete at the European Championships in Munich, Germany in August as part of the first round of selections made today by the national governing body.
The first round of selections focused on the Marathon and 35km Race Walk events.
All six athletes announced today have attained A standards in their events during the qualifying period.
The governing body stresses that further selections in both the Marathon and 35km Race Walk will likely be made in July to include athletes who have qualified by rank for the Race Walk and any additional selections to the Marathon team, as this event includes the European Marathon Team Cup.
Brendan Boyce of Finn Valley AC is the sole athlete announced to compete in the 35km Race Walk. Boyce has represented Ireland at the past three Olympic Games most recently finishing 10th last summer in Tokyo, Japan. He is currently coached by Olympic medallist Rob Heffernan. Boyce recently finished 33rd at the World Athletics Race Walking Tour event in Podebrady, Czech Republic.
Three female athletes have been selected for the Marathon. Fionnuala McCormack is the standout name. The Kilcoole AC athlete has had a decorated career in the Irish singlet and will look to build on that in Munich. McCormack finished 25th over the distance at the Olympics last summer. She is coached by her husband Alan. Last weekend McCormack clocked 32.19 for 10k on the road at the Meta Time Trial event in Malaga, Spain.
Aoife Cooke has also been selected. The Eagle AC athlete is coached by Alan Storey and also represented Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Cooke is in good form at the minute having last month ran 15.56 for 5k on the road, breaking 16 minutes for the first time.
Ann-Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC will also be on the plane to Munich. Coached by Emmet Dunleavy, McGlynn is in the form of her life. She narrowly missed out on a place at the Olympics so will be looking to show what she can do at these Championships. Just last weekend she broke Anne Keenan Buckley’s twenty-year-old Irish O40 5000m record on the track running 15.46.08 in Belfast.
Two athletes have been selected for the Men’s Marathon. Hugh Armstrong secured qualification at the Cheshire Marathon last weekend running 2.14.02. The Ballina AC man is coached by Feidhlim Kelly.
Kevin Seaward of St. Malachy’s AC has also been selected. Seaward is coached by Andy Hobdell. Seaward has represented Ireland at the last two Olympic Games and is the fastest Irishman over the distance this year so far having ran 2.11.54 to finish third in the Manchester Marathon earlier this month.
The European Championships take place between the 15th and 21st of August this year.
