It could not have been a much better year for Irish athletics. Only a medal at the Olympics was missing and, even then, there were two close calls.
It was a year of unprecedented record-breaking, both national and international, on the roads, on the track and in the field.
Some incredible performances – literally incredible such as the women’s marathon record!
Highlight of the year from an Irish point of view was the European Athletics Championships in Rome with Ireland’s athletes taking two gold and two silver medals.
It was the first time that Ireland had struck gold at the championships since 1998 when Sonia O’Sullivan did the 5000/10000m double.
Sharlene Mawdsley ran an astute final leg in the mixed 4 x 400m relay, after Thomas Barr, Chris O’Donnell and Rhasidat Adeleke had laid the groundwork, to seal victory.
The Tipperary woman moved decisively away from Italy and Belgium on the final straight, as Femke Bol of the Netherlands mounted a late but futile charge for the victory.
That added to the bronze medal taken by the mixed 4 x 400m team earlier in the year at the World Relays in the Bahamas when Cillin Green had done duty in place of O’Donnell.
After previously taking 1500m silver and bronze medals at the Europeans, Ciara Mageean climbed to the top of the podium to collect the gold.
And it was well-deserved too with Portaferry’s finest controlling the race before turning in a devastating sprint over the final furlong to claim that long-awaited European title.
Silver medals from Adeleke in the 400m and the women’s 4 x 400m relay team sent Irish athletics to a new high at least in the eyes of the nation.
Hopes were high for maybe a medal or two one medal at the Olympics, but it was not to be. Rhasidat Adeleke started to show signs of a long year’s campaign and managed only fourth in the 400m against older and more experienced athletes.
That place was equalled by the women’s 4 x 400m team, which included Adeleke, when the best hoped-for was a spot in the final.
The mixed 4 x 400m team, minus Adeleke did not get out of the heats. Also, unfortunately, Ciara Mageean’s hopes of running in a third Olympics were dashed due to an ankle injury that eventually needed surgery.
Earlier there had been a haul of medals at the European U18 Championships with pride of place going to Cavan teenager Tom Williams who won the hammer.
There was a runner-up spot for Seamus Clarke in the 5000m walk while Conor Kelly (400m), Joe Burke (200m) and Cian Crampton (discus) all claimed bronze medals.
As the track and field season tailed off Oisin Joyce made history at the World U20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru at the end of August as he won Ireland’s first throws medal at the event, a bronze in the javelin, with a new Irish U20 record.
The European Cross Country Championships had been a happy hunting ground in recent years and December’s event looked like the ideal opportunity to end an outstanding year with a bang.
Alas, it did not go to plan with many of our country stars failing to shine and it was left to Nick Griggs and his silver medal in the U23 race to avoid 2024 concluding with a whimper.
IRISH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Rhasidat Adeleke
Rhasidat Adeleke was the 2024 Irish Athlete of the Year after a season in which she was key to Ireland’s relay successes.
She also collected an individual silver medal in the 400m at the European championships and finished fourth at the Olympics, missing out on a medal by three-tenths of a second.
The Tallaght AC athlete concluded her season with a third-place finish in her debut at the Diamond League final. Earlier she had set national records over 60m, 200m and 300m indoors, as well as over 100m and 400m outdoors in what was an outstanding year.
ULSTER ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (FEMALE) – Ciara Mageean
The City of Lisburn athlete opened her season by lowering her own 800m record before going on to be crowned European 1500m champion on that historic night in Rome.
Honourable mention must be made of Kate O’Connor who finished 14th in the heptathlon at the Olympic Games and Ann-Marie McGlynn who won the national marathon and cross-country titles in the space of days.
ULSTER ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (MALE) – Nick Griggs
Nick Griggs has achieved so much that it is hard to believe he only turned 20 in the past fortnight.
Aside from his silver medal in the U23 race at the European Cross Country, the Candour Track Club athlete also set national records in that age group over 1500m, 3000m and 5000m records outdoors this year.
He qualified for and competed at the European Athletics Championships.
Mark English broke his own national 800m record on two occasions and reached the semi-finals of the event at the Olympics.
He did not take part in the European championships when he could possibly have added to his medal collection.
It was a close call between the pair but Griggs gets the nod on the strength of his cross country medal and the X factor.
ULSTER JUNIOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Tom Williams
Cavan’s Tom Williams re-wrote the hammer records in the age group, not once, twice but many times. Not only did win the European U18s but claimed five other titles as well across Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
The Shercock thrower who is coached by his father ends the year as the European and world number one in the event.
ULSTER TEAM OF THE YEAR – Candour Track Club
No Northern club had won a senior men’s national cross country team title since the 1950s although North Belfast Harriers had come close in 2023.
That gap was finally bridged in November when Candour Track Club easily saw off North Belfast for a comfortable victory at Irvinestown.
The club’s four scorers on that historic day in Fermanagh were Nick Griggs (7th), Conall McClean (11th), Callum Morgan (16th) and Luke Kelly (27th).
MEETING/RACE OF THE YEAR – Belfast Irish Milers’ Meeting
Road running continued from strength to strength with the half marathon distance proving particularly popular. The Waterside in Derry, Omagh and Belfast all attracted record fields and the Belfast Marathon, among others, could rightly claim the accolade as race/meeting of the year.
The Armagh Road Races were once again excellent but the Belfast Irish Milers’ Meeting at the Mary Peters Track had that WOW factor.
Despite a paltry budget compared to the Morton Games in Dublin or the Cork City Sports, meeting director Eamonn Christie produced a rabbit from the hat once again in the person of 17-year-old English girl Phoebe Gill who raced to a European U18 record in the 800m.
That was not the only the highlight and there were other top-class performances from athletes such as Callum Dodds in the men’s 800m and Sophie Becker in the 400m.
The big question remains unanswered - how does he always get the best weather for his meeting every year? Get the suncream ready for the May 10, 2025.