Ndudi claims European gold with new Irish record

Elizabeth Ndudi (Dundrum South Dublin AC) has won gold for Ireland in the women’s long jump at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem this morning.

The Irish national senior champion put in a stunning round of jumps with her best leap of 6.56m (+1.4) smashing her own Irish U20 record of 6.44 which she posted just last month.

The result moved the newly crowned European champion to second on the Irish all-time list behind Kelly Proper’s national record of 6.62i (2010).

Speaking after the race, Ndudi said: “I’m in shock, I’m amazed how well the event went for me.

I was confident in myself coming in here but it’s a huge improvement and to do it in such a high competition makes the national record so special.

“I really focused on my mental preparations as well as the physical side coming in here.

I made sure to really get in the zone in the morning and evening before sessions.

Last year I was a bit nervous and I think that’s why I didn’t post a big jump but today I came in here full of confidence, so I was mentally prepared”.

Ndudi, who came into this week’s championships ranked sixth, becomes Ireland’s first ever field event champion at European U20 level.