Irish athletes can medal and grab headlines in Rome

Looking at the Irish team selected for the upcoming European Championships in Rome (live on RTÉ, starting on Friday), it’s hard not to be excited about what can be achieved.

There is so much potential in this team, both from a medal perspective and in terms of national records, PBs and progression through rounds.

It’s continuing that good vibe around Irish athletics at the moment, and it’s a good stepping stone for some towards the Olympics.

It’s another championship where we can take medals and grab headlines.

That being said, with the Olympics on the horizon, it does make things tricky from the perspective of the athletes and coaches.

At the best of times, it’s not a straightforward planning process, but with two major championships on in such close proximity, as well as the qualification processes involved, it can create a complex dynamic. It’s hard to focus on both, peaking in June and then late August.

Still, there’s no doubt there’s opportunities for Irish athletes to get on the podium.

Rome will be a reduced timetable, down from 10 days to five in an effort to make it appealing to the global stars in an Olympic year.

Some big names have still decided to bypass the Europeans. In the women’s 1500m for example, Laura Muir, has opted to concentrate on training, and this will only boost Ciara Mageean’s prospects.

Having led home Sarah Healy in an Irish one-two in Ostrava recently, the Portaferry woman joked that gold is the only colour medal she doesn’t have at the Europeans.

She will know this is an opportunity to get top of the podium.

Rhasidat Adeleke will also spearhead Irish medal prospects.

People were wondering if she would compete in the Europeans, possibly keeping her powder dry for Olympics. She even hinted that 200m might be her event for Rome, from an energy conservation point of view with Paris looming, but she has plumped for the 400m.

Rhasidat hasn’t raced at this distance yet this season, but looked good at 100m recently, while her 200m times were at world-class level.

It bodes well, plus her relay split times from the World Relays in the Bahamas where Ireland secured bronze mean that she looks in great shape, but she will have stiff competition.

She is currently ranked outside the top three – Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, followed by Femke Bol and Kieke Klaver of Netherlands leading the way – but on her day, she can definitely medal, if not take gold.

Rhasidat will again be in relay action, and for the first time at the Europeans, we will have Irish representation in all three events; men’s, women’s and mixed 4x400m.

Looking at the men’s relay team, Sean Doggett, who won the Irish Schools last weekend, is included and it’s a great opportunity for him and highlights the role relays are playing in developing talent and creating depth

The women’s 4x400m team is very strong and has the credentials to be right up there in the hunt for silverware.

Rhasidat is available and Sharlene Mawdsley is in serious form. Ranked fourth in her individual event, her confidence is sky high.

Sophie Becker is performing really well at the moment and ranked 12th for the 400m individually, just outside Olympic qualification time.

There is a real growing interest in the relay teams, following success in reaching World and European finals, as well as such a strong showing in the Bahamas where the women and mixed teams sealed their place in Paris in some style.

There will be extra focus on the mixed relay team, who will be competing early in the programme, and with top-12 ranked athletes in each sprint event obtaining a bye to the semi-finals, it shouldn’t have a major impact on the individual competitions.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for this team to build on the brilliant bronze from the World Athletics Relays won back in May.

It’s a fantastic opportunity for them, and the fact you have a world-class athlete available in Rhasidat, who is splitting 48 seconds, helps takes us to another level.

We have others more than capable of making finals.

The 100m hurdles is a strong European event, but Sarah Lavin, who will have a bye to the semi-finals, is a serial finalist at major championships. She will have her sights on getting to the final and giving it a real rattle.

Mark English is another athlete coming into form. When you look at the 800m rankings, he’s not a million mile away and has pedigree at the Europeans to make a final.

Tom Barr is chipping away and getting quicker. He’s coming into shape at the right time and competes well at championships.

In the men’s 1500m, you have Andrew Coscoran, who is running at a really good level right now. His season is progressing nicely and he is an athlete who loves the buzz of a championship.

Luke McCann has decided to sit it out to concentrate on qualification. Nick Griggs is a young athlete with immense talent. There is no pressure on him coming into the senior environment and he could thrive in the Italian capital.

The interesting thing about the athletic year is that it’s not one size fits all.

Some athletes have banked their qualifier times very early and have planned accordingly. Others had to go out in early May, straight off the bat, to run qualifiers for Rome.

That can be difficult. Athletes can be chasing times and performances, sometimes they get to major champions and are exhausted. That’s hard, and I have been in that position myself, trying to balance both physical and mental preparation.

Some of the Irish athletes may not be at their optimal performance level just yet due to Olympics on the horizon, but what is guaranteed is that, as competitors, they will be keen to get the confidence up and lay down solid foundations in Rome.

Watch the European Athletics Championships from Friday to Wednesday with coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ2 Player