Donegal athletes head to Slovenia for European Team Championships

Three Donegal athletes will make their way to Slovenia today (Thursday) to represent Ireland at the European Athletics Team Championships.

Finn Valley duo Roisin Flanagan and Arlene Crossan, and Tír Chonaill AC’s Fintan Dewhirst are part of the 46-strong team that head to Maribor for the team-based championships.

Dewhirst will compete in the 400m Hurdles, while Flanagan will toe the line in the 5,000m and Crossan is a member of the 4x400m Mixed Relay team.

Flanagan is well experienced at donning the Irish vest, but it’s the first time representing Ireland at senior level for Dewhirst, while Crossan made her senior Irish bow at the European Indoors, running in the women’s 4x400m final.

The Ireland team will compete in Division 2 after being promoted from Division 3 in the last instalment of the competition in Chorzow in 2023.

Irish athletes had a successful tournament in Poland two years ago as they topped the standings in the third tier and they picked up one overall medal as Sarah Lavin won bronze in the 100m Hurdles.

The championships take place this weekend on June 28-29, with the 400m Hurdles taking place at 16.13 local time on Saturday.

The Women’s 5,000m takes place at 18.50 on Sunday, with the Mixed 4x400m scheduled for 19.40 on Sunday just before the victory ceremony.

The other nations competing in the division are Denmark, Croatia, Slovenia, Israel, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Norway, Bulgaria, Estonia, Cyprus, Turkey, Latvia, Slovakia and Serbia.