Ciara Mageean looks to get Irish World Championship challenge going

Ciara Mageean will get Ireland’s challenge at the World Athletics Championship underway on Saturday in the 1500 metres.

In a year which celebrated the 40^th anniversary of Eamonn Coghlan’s gold medal at the first World Championship and the 10^th anniversary of Rob Heffernan’s, Ireland go into the championship with an exciting team.

The World Athletics Championship were first competed in Helsinki in 1983. Since 1987, the championship have been held bi-annually.

Ireland have landed four gold medals in this period. Coghlan (1983), Sonia O’Sullivan (1995), Olive Loughnane (2009) and Rob Heffernan (2013).

While, Sonia O’Sullivan (1993) and walker Gillian O’Sullivan (2003) have taken silver. Loughnane originally won silver in 2009, her medal was upgraded following retrospective doping tests.

For Irish athletics, this is an exciting period with the largest Irish team ever sent to the championships with 24.

Ciara Mageean is probably Ireland’s best chance for a medal, having become the fifth fastest female miler of all time last month.

Three Irish women in 1500m

Mageean will lead a trio of Irish athletes in the 1500 metres. With, Mageean joined by European U23 gold and silver medallists Sophie O’Sullivan and Sarah Healy. The first round of the 1500m gets underway at 12:15 Irish time on Saturday.

While, Saturday’s evening session will see three Irish men take to the 1500 metres. 2020 Olympic finalist Andrew Coscoran broke his own Irish record with at the Silesia Diamond League meeting earlier this season, finishing fourth in a world class field in 3.30.42.

Coscoran will have sights firmly set on making the 1500m final set for Wednesday evening. Whereas, 18-year-old sensation Nick Griggs will take his senior major international debut.

European U20 silver medallist Griggs is one of Ireland’s big up and coming stars and will be on the world stage as still a teenager. The fear for Irish athletics is the high pressure being put on such a young team. However, this doesn’t seem to register with the Athletics Ireland promotions department.

Whereas, Dubliner Luke McCann is the third Irish man in action at the 1500m. McCann aims to make an impact after being overlooked by the selectors last year.

Mixed 4x400 team aim for another final

Also in action will be the Irish mixed 4x400m team. They will look to make it three-in-a-row, having qualified for both the 2020 Olympic final and the 2022 World Championship final. However, this team must do without Rhasidat Adeleke.

Adeleke has rose to fame and again having just turned professional last month, is coming under visible expectation pressure. Whereas, Adeleke is entered in the 400m and women’s 4x400m relay team.

The mixed team includes Roisin Harrison, Callum Baird, Christopher O'Donnell, Sophie Becker, Jack Raftery and Sharlene Mawdsley go into the qualifying round form 10:05am. The team is two men and two women.

The opening day of competition will be busy for the Irish with David Kenny leading out the charge in the 20km walk from 7.50am.

Irish Shot put record-holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock) takes to the circle in the qualifying round from 9:30am. Kate O’Connor gets her busy weekend up and running in the first of her four heptathlon events at 9.35am (100m hurdles).