Healy stars in National Athletics preview as attention shifts to the senior athletes preparing for the World Championships following a medal-filled July for Ireland’s underage and university stars. With 11 medals collected, including a third this year for Kate O’Connor at the World University Games, the focus now turns to Santry where the National Championships will take place on August 2–3—serving as the gateway to Tokyo’s global stage.
ICYMI: Daniel Wiffen has withdrawn from the World Aquatics Championships
Young Stars Shine, Seniors Step In
July proved to be a golden month for Ireland’s youth and college athletes, but now it’s time for senior contenders to build on that success. Whether September’s World Championships will bring the same level of celebration as the indoor season, where Healy, Mark English, and O’Connor medalled, remains uncertain. Global medals are hard to come by—Rob Heffernan’s 2013 gold was the last time Ireland heard its anthem at a World Championships.
Nationals in Santry: A Crucial First Step
The national championships at Morton Stadium are an essential checkpoint for hopefuls eyeing Tokyo. While participation is technically required for selection, that rule is not always strictly followed. Big names occasionally skip the event, and this year Rhasidat Adeleke will miss out due to injury. While not ideal, rest now could be vital for her World Championships hopes.
Qualified and Chasing
Nine Irish athletes, including Adeleke, and two relay teams already hold the qualifying standard, and three marathoners have been named. Although this year’s nationals aren’t as decisive as 2024’s Olympic qualifiers, there’s still plenty on the line. Some athletes are still chasing world ranking points, and the qualification window remains open for three weeks after nationals. Darragh McElhinney is close—just six places off the top 42 in the 5000m rankings—but he’s switching to the 1500m for nationals, which could be the most competitive race of the weekend.
1500m Showdown Takes the Spotlight
Cathal Doyle and Andrew Coscoran have both hit the 3:33.00 mark for Tokyo in the 1500m, booking their spots. With Luke McCann out after surgery and Nick Griggs only now building momentum, this year marks the first time since 2021 that three Irish men won’t represent the country in the 1500m at a global outdoor meet. That said, Griggs and McElhinney will join Doyle and Coscoran in what promises to be a stacked race. Both are also eyeing fast 5000m times in Belgium the following weekend, so this event serves as ideal preparation.
Who to Watch
Shane Bracken, wearing his Swinford vest, is one to watch after securing third at the European Team Championships. He’s likely hungry to improve on last year’s fourth-place nationals finish. Coscoran has signaled his intent to focus on the 1500m, and fresh off a win against Doyle earlier this month, confidence will be high. With Doyle also riding momentum after an 800m personal best in Luxembourg, the men’s 1500m could be both tense and thrilling. With pride, rankings, and rivalries at stake, a determined Doyle looking to settle the score may be tough to beat.
