Ireland's Next Generation Take To The Track As Seniors Hit The Roads

Ireland’s best young athletes will compete in AIT International Arena, Athlone at the GloHealth Junior and U23 Indoor Championships on Sunday January 31st as they look to lay down a marker for the indoor season and the year ahead.

Intriguingly Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O’Toole’s) looks set to double in the 60m and the 400m in the U23 age category. The 60m will be the Carlow athlete’s main focus before stepping up in distance in what should be an exciting prospect to see what marker he can lay down over the two-lap distance indoors.

The event will be streamed live by nTrai from 10am and there looks to be a number of enthralling sprints contests – particularly in the women’s junior races.

European Olympic Youth 100m gold medallist Ciara Neville (Emerald) will take on the likes of Janine Boyle (Finn Valley), Molly Scott (SLOT), Gina Akpe Moses (Blackrock, Co. Louth) and Ciara Neville (Emerald), Phoebe Murphy (Ferrybank), and Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) in the 60m and 200m respectively. 

Other European Youth medallists competing on the day include Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen) in the junior 1500m and Ryan Carthy Walshe (Adamstown) and Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) in the respective junior men's and women's high jump competitions. 

Meanwhile on the roads the Axa Raheny 5 mile is expected to surpass 3,000 entries on Sunday with internationals such as Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock), Mary Cullen (North Sligo) and Caroline Crowley (Crusaders) all toeing the line. The John Treacy 10 mile road race in Dungarvan is also expected to have a big entry and top quality fields. 

For a full preview of the GloHealth Junior and U23 Indoor Championships: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/irelands-next-generation-on-show-in-athlone