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06 Sept 2025

Longford athletes Cian, Yemi and Nelvin competing for Ireland in the European Under 23 Championships

European Under-23 Athletics Championships in Espoo, Finland, July 12 to July 16

longford athletics club

Cian McPhillips, who will be competing in the 800m heats at the European U-23 Athletics Championships in Finland on Friday

Longford athletes Cian McPhillips, Yemi Talabi and Nelvin Appiah are all representing Ireland at the European Under-23 Athletics Championships being held in Espoo, Finland this week. 

The trio are among a 32-strong representation selected by Athletics Ireland for the five-day event. 

Cian will run in the 800 metres, with the heats on Friday, and the Ardagh runner is ranked ninth of the 22 athletes on the entry list with a season’s best of 1:45.92. 

Having only raced twice so far in 2023, and with championship racing often a more tactical affair, UCD student Cian can approach Friday’s heat confident of securing a place in Sunday’s final when anything can happen.

 This will be his first appearance in an Irish vest since his great gold medal success at the 2021 European U-20 Championships in the 1500m. 

Yemi, a student at the University of Texas Arlington, competed in the Women's 100 metres this Thursday morning with a 5th place finish in a time of 11.95 which unfortunately won't see her progress to the semi-finals. She'll take some great experience from these Championships. 

Her excellent performances Stateside as well as the experience gained from competing at last year’s World Championships can help Edgeworthstown’s Yemi produce a good performance.  

Nelvin is named on the 4 x 100m relay panel and will be looking to continue his good track season having already won an American National Heptathlon title when representing his college South Plains Texas. 

The versatile Nelvin was a recent silver medallist in the 110m Hurdles at the National U-23s. Among his relay teammates will be Ireland’s fastest man ever over 100 metres in Israel Olatunde.

It is quite something for three young athletes from Longford to be representing Ireland at a major age group Championships and all the most impressive given there being no outdoor track in the county! 

The trio enjoyed much success wearing the blue singlet over the years while in the juvenile ranks and their continued achievements are testament to their dedicated application to training and the great support received from family and current/past coaches.

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