Irish team for World Championships named

A total of 12 athletes are to represent Ireland at the World Athletics Championships, beginning on August 5, after Athletics Ireland announced their team today.

Six of the team - Robert Heffernan, Olive Loughnane, Karen Shinkins, Derval O'Rourke, Eileen O'Keefe and Peter Coghlan - won national titles over the weekend and showed encouraging form ahead of the Helsinki event.

200m sprinter Paul Hession, whose season has been dogged by injury, and Offaly middle-distance star James Nolan, who ran a 1500m season's best (3:37.78) in Heusden, Belgium on Saturday, will both compete in the next Saturday's Dublin International in Santry to rubberstamp their fitness.

Also expected at the Dublin International is European Indoor 400m champion David Gillick, who missed the Nationals with a hamstring injury.

Tipperary's Tomas Coman retained the one-lap title yesterday but has decided not to travel to Helsinki, therefore handing Dubliner Gillick a place on the team.

Irish medal chances are likely to be at a premium in the Icelandic capital with injury ruling out headline acts Sonia O'Sullivan, Alistair Cragg and Kerry walker Gillian O'Sullivan, who was World silver medallist in Paris two years ago.

IRELAND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM:

5000 metres - Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin)

10000m - Marie Davenport (Marian)

3000m Steeplechase - Roisin McGettigan (Sli Cualann)

20 kilometre Walk - Olive Loughnane (Loughrea)

20km Walk - Robert Heffernan (Togher)

400m - Karen Shinkins (Dublin City Harriers)

100m Hurdles - Derval O'Rourke (Leevale)

Hammer - Eileen O'Keefe (Kilkenny City Harriers)

200m - Paul Hession (Athenry)

400m - David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin)

1500m - James Nolan (UCD)

110 Hurdles - Peter Coghlan (Crusaders)