Thomas Williams took hammer throw gold at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Slovakia.
The Cavan man claimed gold with a winning throw of 73.95 metres. The 16-year-old is just the third-ever Irish athlete to claim European gold at under-18 level.
In fact, Williams (Shercock AC), Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club), and Joe Burke (Templemore AC) have won Ireland’s second, third, and fourth medals of the week at the European U18 championships.
“It’s amazing, I’m so happy” declared Williams. “I was a bit nervous with the first throw but once it stayed in the sector I settled. The gold was all that mattered, and the Irish crowd were phenomenal”.
Williams, who came into the championships as a likely medal contenders. Four of Williams six throws exceeding the 70 metre mark.
Dimo Andreev of Bulgaria took silver with a best of 72.49 metres with Spain’s Magno Llopis taking bronze with a best of 72.48 metres.
Meanwhile, Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club) picked up Ireland’s second medal of the day, storming to a brilliant bronze in the 400m. Kelly clocked an Irish U18 record time of 46.97 seconds.
Stanisław Strzelecki of Poland took gold in 46.50 seconds with France’s Milann Klemenic taking silver in 46.78 seconds.
Whereas, Joe Burke (Templemore AC) secured a brilliant bronze medal from lane eight in the men’s 200m final.
Burke set a new Irish U18 record of 21.31 seconds taking bronze. Diego Nappi of Italy set a championship record of 20.81 second for gold. Silver went to Sweden’s Ivano Bevanda in 21.17 seconds.
Elsewhere, Tara O'Connor (Dundalk St Gerards) took joint sixth place in the high jump with a best clearance of 1.78m for joint sixth place. While Siún Quinn (Brothers Pearse AC) finished joint ninth thanks her best clearance of 1.74m.
