BY LEE MAGINNIS
ONLY two Northern Irish women have made it to the European Athletics Championships in Rome this month, both opting to compete for Ireland… Olympic medal hope Ciara Mageean and Emily Haggard Kearney.
Newry’s Kate O’Connor made herself not available for selection in the heptathlon, despite having the qualification standard, as she pursues her Olympic dream, hoping to make the team for Paris later in the summer.
Emily Haggard Kearney, coached by husband Ronan and based in England, has been selected in the half marathon She was recently signed by North Belfast Harriers in their bid for domestic dominance and ran a HM time of 70:45 in Valencia towards the end of 2023.
Portaferry’s Ciara Mageean, coached by Helen Clitheroe, is competing in her preferred 1500m. Despite now being in her 30s, Ciara is running faster than ever, recently breaking her own Irish 800m record and last year taking the 1500m record from the legendary Sonia O’Sullivan.
The European Championships take place from June 7-12 in Rome.
