Ireland’s leading track and field athletes will descend on Morton Stadium this weekend for the 154th edition of the 123.ie National Senior Track and Field Championships.
With the Birmingham 2026 European Championships fast approaching, this year’s national showpiece carries added significance as athletes continue their pursuit of European qualification.
There will be no shortage of compelling contests across a packed two-day programme, with a potential showdown between Mark English (Finn Valley AC) and Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) in the men’s 800m among the most eagerly anticipated events.
Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) will bid to secure a fifth consecutive outdoor 1500m title in what promises to be another high-quality final.
Doyle will likely face a formidable challenge from Nick Griggs (CNDR Track) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC), setting the stage for one of the standout races of the weekend.
The women’s middle-distance events are equally compelling, with Sarah Healy (UCD AC) and Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) both currently holding entries in the 800m and 1500m.
The sprint programme also has all the ingredients for a headline-making weekend. Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) (pictured above) will be chasing an extraordinary 11th outdoor 100m hurdles crown, further extending one of the most dominant records in Irish championship athletics.
The men’s sprint events promise to deliver some of the most explosive racing of the weekend. Defending 100m champion Bori Akinola (UCD AC) is focused on defending his 100m crown this weekend.
He is sure to face a stern test from the in-form Seán Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) and Benjamin Richardson (Waterford AC) who also hold entries for the 200m.
Richardson arrives with the fastest times over 100m and 200m this season, having clocked 10.06 and 20.25 respectively, and could make an immediate impact on his senior National Championship debut.
There will be no shortage of star quality in the women’s sprints. Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) is entered in both the 200m and 400m, while much attention will also focus on Rhasidat Adeleke’s (Tallaght AC) pursuit of European qualification in the 200m.
Adeleke (pictured above) is likely to face a formidable challenge from Mawdsley and Lauren Roy (Fast Twitch AC), with Roy boasting the fastest time by an Irishwoman over the distance this season (22.83).
The field events will also feature several of Ireland’s leading international athletes, with Olympian Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) among the headline entries.
The 22-year-old has established herself as one of the country’s most consistent performers and will provide Irish supporters with an opportunity to see her in action ahead of the European Championships in Birmingham.
Tuthill has moved within touching distance of Eileen O’Keeffe’s national hammer record of 73.21m after improving her personal best to 72.73m this season.
She will arrive at Morton Stadium seeking a fifth outdoor title and looking to build further momentum with the Europeans just over two weeks away.
A special celebration in honour of Ciara Mageean will take place during Sunday’s evening session, with the European champion set to return as Guest of Honour as she takes to the track with juvenile athletes from across the country from 7.35pm.