Olympic focus rules Ryan, O’Rourke out of Euros

Irish record holders Deirdre Ryan and Derval O’Rourke will not compete in the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki at the end of the month.

High jumper Ryan and spring hurdles queen O’Rourke have both opted to maintain exclusive focus on the London Olympic Games.

Ireland will send a 26-person team to Helsinki, including last year’s European Cross Country champion, Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC), where she will contest the 10,000m at a major championships for the first time. Previously she competed in the 3k steeplechase.

Irish record holder, Joanne Cuddihy (Kilkenny City Harriers) will compete over 400m after what has been a very successful year so far for the Kilkenny athlete over the one lap distance.

Cuddihy has been training and competing in Australia for the majority of the year, running a seasonal best time of 51.43 back in May to secure her place on the team.

Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers), Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC), Paul Hession (Athenry AC) and Jason Smyth (City of Derry) lead a strong Irish men’s contingent in the sprint events. Hession will compete in the 200m and has a seasonal best of 20.76.

Double Para-Olympian Jason Smyth (City of Derry) is named in the team after running 10.24 in Clermont, Florida in May. Smyth also has a wind assisted 10.17 to his name this year.

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) and Jason Harvey (University of Ulster AC) will compete in the 400m hurdles while Barr’s sister, Jessie, will go in the women’s 400m hurdles having run 56.16 in May to qualify. The time was a personal best and also moved Barr to third on the Irish all-time lists.