IRISH ATHLETES READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK AT EUROPEAN RACE WALKING TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2025 European Race Walking Team Championships return to Podebrady on Sunday May 18th, and Ireland’s race walkers are gearing up for a strong showing across senior and U20 events. A team boasting a mix of Olympians, rising stars, and seasoned competitors will be looking to make an impact in both individual and team standings.
Senior Men: Kenny Leads Charge as Boyce and Mooney Eye Tokyo Qualification
Tokyo Olympian David Kenny headlines the Irish team, now under the guidance of renowned coach Jamie Costin. Kenny has been in fine form and will be targeting a top-eight finish or better in the 20km, a result that would signal his progress ahead of major championships. Kenny is joined in the 20km entries by Matthew Glennon of Mullingar Harriers who will look to carry the form shown at the Universities last month into this weekend.
Meanwhile, Brendan Boyce continues his comeback trail. The Finn Valley wouldn’t be racing (35km) if he didn’t believe he was in shape to secure qualification for Tokyo, and a strong performance here could reignite his championship credentials.
Joe Mooney will join Boyce over the 35km distance and will be pushing hard to improve on his 2:46:01 from Dudinska earlier this season.
Senior Women: Veale and Lane Aiming for Breakthroughs
In the women’s 20km, Kate Veale – a consistent performer on the European stage, will be targeting a sub 1:36 performance to set a new personal best. Meanwhile, Aisling Lane will use this race as a key stepping stone ahead of the European U23 Championships in July.
U20s: Young Guns Targeting Team Success
Ireland’s U20 squad boasts exciting potential, with both Seamus Clarke and Matthew Newell having finished top eight at last year’s European U18 Championships.
Clarke, the more experienced of the two, will be aiming for a top-15 finish, while Newell, ranked in the top three in Europe for his age group, will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of a busy summer season which could culminate at the European Youth Olympics. With team scoring based on the top two finishers, Ireland’s U20 men could challenge for a top-six team finish, a strong result given their youth.
