Sprint star Israel Olatunde takes nothing for granted ahead of National Indoor Championships

'I’m running down a dream and just going where it leads,' Dundalk native says

Sprinter Israel Olatunde at the launch of the 2022 Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships. The championships will take place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena this weekend. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Israel Olatunde was just four when Paul Hession exploded from the blocks in Birmingham, rocketed down the track and covered 60 metres in just 6.61 seconds.

In the 15 years since those European Indoor Championships, no Irish sprinter has come close to that Irish record, at least until Olatunde. In Athlone last month, the 19-year-old clocked 6.64, and has since gone under 6.70 on four occasions.