The National Track and Field Championships is a renowned event that carries a rich history, even more so in Ireland where it has been held for an impressive 152 consecutive years, making it the longest continuous athletic event globally. It stands as an exciting platform for both triumphant returns of athletes and well-wishing send-offs.
One athlete, particularly steeped in anticipation, is Rhasidat Adeleke. Barely a fortnight has passed since her victory lap at the European Championships in Rome with three medals under her belt. Now, just shy of a month from her journey to the Paris Olympics, Adeleke gears up to race on her home soil after a two-year hiatus. Her focus is on the upcoming Sunday’s 100m dash, working to fine-tune her speed for the strenuous battles that lie ahead.
First held at College Park in Trinity on July 7, 1873, the championships didn’t feature the women’s sprint until 1929, where Maura Barrett from Dublin was the pioneer victor, clocking the 100 yards in exactly 12 seconds. A couple of years ago, Adeleke broke records, completing her first 100m title run in 11.29 seconds, which she bested again in 2022 (11.68 seconds), battling a -9.36km/h headwind. Come the final on Sunday at 1.35pm, the wind conditions could be the deciding factor as to whether Adeleke will clinch the only Irish sprint record yet to bear her name.
However, the 21-year-old athlete will face stiff competition. Last year, she missed the event due to injury, making way for Sarah Lavin’s dual victory in the 100m and 100m hurdles. Lavin is also setting her sights on pulling off a similar double this weekend, beginning with the hurdles on Saturday.
Moreover, the decision of Ciara Mageean, the 32-year-old gold medallist from Rome, to skip the event for the fifth consecutive year will likely result in another exciting showdown between Sarah Healy and Sophie O’Sullivan, with Healy having a slight edge from last year’s win.
Also present, will be six medal winners from Rome, including Chris O’Donnell who led the mixed 4x400m team to gold, looking to clinch his sixth 400m title in seven years, and thereby confirming his place in the relay team for Paris.
Sharlene Mawdsley is preparing to run the 200m, while Thomas Barr is aiming to secure his place for the Paris games in the 400m hurdles. Should Andrew Coscoran, Luke McCann and Cathal Doyle decide to compete rather than opt out, the trio, all of whom are in qualifying positions for the 1,500m in Paris, could potentially offer one of the highlight races of the weekend.
The events on Saturday and Sunday will be showcased live on Athletics Ireland’s YouTube channel. Furthermore, there will be live broadcast on RTÉ 2 on Sunday, from 12:45 to 2:30pm. For adults, the daily entrance fee is €11, a two-day pass can be purchased for €17 whereas spectators below 16 years of age are allowed free entry.