Cork athletics well represented in the Irish team heading to Japan for the World Championships

Several Cork athletes are part of the Irish team that Athletics Ireland have announced for the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Sophie O'Sullivan, Nicola Tuthill, Bantry’s Darragh McElhinney and Laura Nicholson of Bandon AC are all part of the Irish team heading to Japan.

A number of World and European medallists, as well as Olympians, will headline the team for the championships which take place at the Japan National Stadium from September 13th to September 21st. 

Amongst them are Sarah Healy (Women’s 1500m), Kate O’Connor (Women’s Heptathlon), Mark English (Men’s 800m), Sarah Lavin (100mH), Nicola Tuthill (Hammer), Andrew Coscoran (1500m), Cathal Doyle (1500m), Sophie Becker (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay and Women’s 4x400m Relay), and Sharlene Mawdsley (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay and Women’s 4x400m Relay).

Sarah Healy (UCD AC) has accumulated significant championship experience at this stage of her career, with Tokyo marking the 24-year-old's third appearance at the World Athletics Championships. 

The Dubliner, who is based in Manchester training with M11 Track Club, will compete in the Women’s 1500m having won the European indoor 3000m title in March.

Healy will be joined in the 1500m by fellow Olympian Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC), and Laura Nicholson of Bandon AC who was officially confirmed as qualified based on her ranking over the weekend.

Mark English (Finn Valley AC) also medalled at the European Indoor Championships, winning bronze in the Men’s 800m, and has to date had a sensational season clocking the six fastest ever times of his career in the last three months, lowering his Irish record down to 1:43.37 in Budapest earlier this month. English will be joined in the 800m by UCD’s Cian McPhillips who is sure to head to Tokyo buoyed by his recent 1:44.34 win in Oordegem last month.

Sarah Lavin will take to the World outdoors on the back of semi-final appearances at the two previous editions in Eugene (2022) and Budapest (2023). 

The Emerald AC sprinter will be looking to channel all her major championship experience as she looks to progress through the rounds in one of the most high-class events in Tokyo.

Olympian Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock AC) will represent Ireland in the shot where he’ll look to continue the form that saw him throw a 20.75m late last month.

2024 European Mixed 4x400m relay champion Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) starred at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China in May helping both the Mixed and Women’s 4x400m relay teams qualify for these championships. She has been selected for both relays, as well as the Women’s 400m alongside teammate Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC).

The Irish relay teams offer a blend of youth and experience across both the mixed and women’s 4x400m events with Rachel McCann (North Down AC), Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers), Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC), Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers), Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers), Michelle Duggan (UCD AC), and Jenna Breen (City of Lisburn AC) completing the lineups.

European U23 and World University Games silver medallist Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) is also selected. 

The Cork native will compete in the Women’s Hammer Throw, an event where she has improved her personal best and Irish U23 record to 71.75m this summer.

Ireland will have a strong endurance representation in Tokyo with Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) leading the charge in the men’s 1500m, while Coscoran will also join Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Bantry’s Darragh McElhinney on the start-line of the men’s 5000m.

The 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships will be broadcast live on RTÉ television for the first time this century, with the nine-day event starting on September 13th.

Tokyo 2025 Selections:

Sophie O’Sullivan Event: Women’s 1500m Club: Ballymore Cobh AC Coach: Collis Birmingham 

Nicola Tuthill Event: Women’s Hammer Throw Club: UCD AC Coach: Killian Barry 

Darragh McElhinney Event: Men’s 5000m Club: Bantry AC Coach: Emmett Dunleavy 

Laura Nicholson Event: Women’s 1500m Club: Bandon AC Coach: Andrea McDonough.