European Team Championships the highlight of the June athletics calendar

The month has already started, but we still have four action-packed weekends to look forward to, in addition to a growing number of mid-week meets. The month will conclude with the European Team Championships, where what should be a strong Irish team will be looking to see just how close they can get to the top tier of Europe’s inter-nation competition.

There’s plenty of Diamond League competition and Continental Tour gold, silver and bronze meetings to look forward to before then, as well as lower-key meetings where some of Ireland’s emerging talent will be looking to register personal bests.

European Team Championships

After being relegated for not competing (due to Covid restrictions) in 2021, the Irish team secured their place back in Tier 2 in fabulous style in 2023. Among the athletes to secure wins last time out were Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie O'Sullivan and Sarah Lavin. Nicola Tuthill (2nd Hammer Throw) and Cathal Doyle (2nd 1500m) have improved considerably since then.

While the competition, particularly in the field events, will be much stiffer in the higher tier, Ireland will hope to field an even better team than they did for Chorzów.

The two-day event, which will be held in the Slovenian city of Maribor on 28 and 29 June,  will be aired on Eurovision Sport.

The Diamond League comes to Europe

There are four European legs of the Diamond League in June: Rome on 6th, Oslo on 12th, Stockholm on 15th and Paris on 20th.

Sarah Healy will be competing in the 1500m in Rome and Paris and Rhasidat Adeleke has just been announced for the 400m in Oslo. We can probably expect to see other Irish athletes in action across the four fixtures.

Other key Continental Tour meetings

Some of Europe’s biggest continental tour meetings will be held in June, including Continental Tour Gold meetings in Hengelo on 9th June; Turku on 17th June and Ostrava on 24th June.

The month kicks off with Continental Tour Silver meetings in Rovereto (silver meeting) on 2nd June, where Mark English will be competing in the 800m and Brian Fay in the 5000m; and Bergen on 3rd June, where Jodie McCann is down to run the 5000m and John Kelly is on the shot putt start list.

Indeed, there are continental tour meetings somewhere in Europe almost every day in June. One of the biggest – the bronze meeting in Geneva on 21 June, should include a healthy group of Irish athletes.

NCAA Div I Nationals

Five Irish athletes will compete in individual events at the NCAA Division I nationals in Eugene from 11th to 14th: Maeve O'Neill (800m), Sophie O'Sullivan (1500m), Shane Brosnan (10,000m), Seán Mockler (Hammer Throw) and Diarmuid O'Connor (Decathlon). Lucy Sleeman and Lauren Roy helped qualify their respective 4x100m teams for nationals and should again feature. O'Sullivan made the final last year, but will have a medal on her agenda when she lines up this year.

Closer to home

Among the domestic meetings worth getting yourself to this month are the Belfast BMC and Lagan Valley Open on 14 June; the UCD Meeting on 18 June, and the Irish Milers Club meeting on 28 June.

Key dates in June

6 Jun: Diamond League Rome, live on Virgin Media
9 Jun: Continental Tour Gold, Hengelo, live on World Athletics
11-14 Jun: NCAA Div I Finals, Eugene
12 Jun: Diamond League Oslo, live on Virgin Media
14 Jun: Belfast BMC with Lagan Valley Open Meeting, Belfast
15 Jun: Diamond League Stockholm, live on Virgin Media
17 Jun: Continental Tour Gold, Turku, live on World Athletics
18 Jun: UCD Athletics Meeting, Dublin
20 Jun: Diamond League Paris, live on Virgin Media
24 Jun: Continental Tour Gold, Ostrava, live on World Athletics
28 Jun: Irish Milers Club Crusaders AC Meeting, Dublin
28-29: European Team Championships, second division, live on Eurovision Sport

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