Sean Doggett will take to the world stage to represent Ireland this weekend in Botswana.
Over the weekend of May 2 and May 3, the Athenry AC athlete will compete for the Irish team at the World Relay Championships in Gaborone, Botswana. Doggett will compete in the Mixed 4x400m Relay alongside the likes of Sharlene Mawdsley and Jack Raftery.
Mawdsley headlines the team, returning to the Irish singlet for the first time since last year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Olympic relay finalist Sophie Becker is also in the mixed 4x400m relay squads. Rachel McCann, who raced as part of the women’s 4x400m team in Tokyo last year, joins Becker and Mawdsley in the 4x400m selection.
Molly Daly and Erin Friel, both 18 years old, are called up to the senior relay squad for the first time. Daly ran a time of 53.74 seconds last month indoors in only her third ever race over the distance, while Friel, who is a European Youth Olympic medallist, also ran a personal best of 54.20 seconds indoors.
Raftery returns to the World Athletics Relays once again, having played key roles for both the mixed and men’s teams in Guangzhou last year. Young athletes Doggett and Fintan Dewhirst complete the mixed relay line-up.
It is yet another milestone in a great season for Doggett. At the beginning of March, he claimed his first National Senior 400m title at the National Indoor Arena, taking gold in a super time of 47.33 seconds. The experience of being at the elite level and surrounded by elite athletes will be invaluable for the young Galwegian.
The top twelve teams will qualify for the World Athletics Championships, with the top six teams in the mixed 4x400m relay qualifying for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September. With World Championships places up for grabs on both days of action in Gaborone, Doggett has a chance to really leave a mark. On the first day, the top two teams in each of the four heats will advance to the finals on day two, while also securing their qualification for the Worlds in Beijing next year. In the finals on day two, teams will compete for prize money and obtain preferential World Championships lane seeding positions.
The first round takes place on Saturday, May 2 at 1.30pm Irish time.
Galway 5km Series
The second leg of the Galway 5km Series was held in Loughrea in summer weather last Tuesday night, April 28.
Gary McDonnell was first home on the night in 17.11, with Aidan Connaughton of Clare River Harriers coming second in 17.27 and Daniel O'Brien placing third in 17.29.
First lady for the second week running was Phoebe Whiteside of GCH in 18.34, with Ellen Bermingham of South Galway AC just behind in second in 18.36 and third was Sinead Egan of GCH in 19.35.
Galway County Juvenile Track and Field Championships
The Galway Track and Field Championships for Juvenile athletes take place next weekend on May 9 and May 10, in Dangan, with entries open on 'Entry for Sport' until May 4, for club athletes.
