Longford athletics star Cian McPhillips selected on a strong Irish team set for European Indoor Championships

Athletics Ireland have announced a final squad selection for the upcoming European Athletics Indoor Championships which take place in the Netherlands from March 6th – 9th with Longford star Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) from Ardagh set to compete in the 800m along with Mark English.  

 The final selection includes athletes who have been confirmed as qualified by rank by European Athletics and completes an exciting Irish team who will start to depart for Apeldoorn early next week.

 The team will be spearheaded in the individual events by a host of Olympians including Sharlene Mawdsley (400m), Sarah Healy (3000m), Jodie McCann (3000m), Sarah Lavin (60mH), Kate O’Connor (Pen), Andrew Coscoran (1500m), and Cathal Doyle (1500m).

 Four-time European championship medallist Mark English also returns to international action and is selected in the 800m following his record-breaking performance earlier this season with Longford Athletics Club product Cian McPhillips in hot pursuit. 

 James Gormley will make his senior Irish debut alongside the aforementioned Andrew Coscoran in the 3000m, while recent national 60m champion Bori Akinola will don the Irish singlet for the first time as a senior individual athlete.

 Lauren Cadden (Sligo AC) also earns her first senior international vest as an individual and will be eager to put in a bold showing in the women’s 400m as she looks to stake a claim on a strong looking women’s relay team.

 Two competitive looking relay teams in both the mixed and women’s 4x400m will look to continue the rise of Irish relay. Both squads can call upon the experience of Olympic finalists Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley as they bid to make yet another major championship final.