Ó Lionaird and O’Rourke lead Irish charge for world medals in Istanbul

Leevale’s Ciarán Ó Lionaird and Derval O’Rourke spearhead Ireland’s hopes of medals at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey today knowing they will have to be in top form to compete with the best.

Ó Lionaird will continue his meteoric rise when he competes in the heats of the 1500m at 10:55am Irish time.

He has been competing well this indoor season having won a quality mile race at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston in 3:56.01 – a race in which he defeated training partner and world 5,000m champion Mo Farah. He subsequently lowered his mile time to 3:54.76 in Arkansas — the eighth fastest time in the world this year.