WHILE Mark English is set to give this weekend’s Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships a miss, Donegal has plenty of medal hopefuls in action.
English has entered the 800m for the Championships, which take place in Abbotstown. However, the Letterkenny man is not expected to go under starter’s orders.
English is focussing on his Olympic preparation and is aiming to seal qualification for the 2020 Games in Tokyo with the indoor season given something of a wide berth.
The likes of Ciara Mageean and Siofra Cleirigh Buttner are others who are reportedly also not competing in Dublin this weekend.
Donegal is not shy on stars in action, though, with Finn Valley AC’s already-Olympic-qualified walker Brendan Boyce in action, although over the much shorter 5k distance. Boyce will use this to sharpen his speed as his countdown to the Olympics continues.
The highly-rated Kelly brothers, John and James – who have been hard at work in camps in Iceland recently – go in the shot put and former World under-20 silver medallist Sommer Lecky will look to retain her women’s high jump title after edging Pippa Rogan 12 months ago.
Tir Chonaill AC’s Kelly McGrory will aim to build on a positive end to 2019 with others like Conall Mahon (Tir Chonaill) and Fodhla McFadden (Rosses AC) among the podium hopes.
The full list of Donegal competitors is: Kathryn McDevitt (Letterkenny AC) 200m; Janine Boyle (Finn Valley AC) 60m, 200m; Simon Archer (Finn Valley AC) 60m, 200m; James Kelly (Finn Valley AC) shot put; Gavin McLaughlin (Finn Valley AC) shot put; John Kelly (Finn Valley AC) shot put; Damian Crawford (Lifford-Strabane AC) shot put; Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) 5k walk; Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) high jump; Shannon Craig (Lifford-Strabane AC) high jump; Michaela Byrne (Finn Valley AC) triple jump, long jump; Leah McGarvey (Rosses AC) long jump; Fodhla Nic Pháidáin (Rosses AC) long jump; Lee Walsh (Finn Valley AC) long jump; Daniella Jansen (Finn Valley AC) 400m; Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonaill AC) 400m; Finn Valley women’s 4×200; John McCallion (Letterkenny AC) 3000m; Conall Mahon (Tir Chonaill AC) triple jump; Caolan O’Callaghan (Tir Chonaill AC) triple jump; Geraldine Stewart (Tir Chonaill AC) shot put; Darragh Crossan (Raphoe – Foyle Valley AC) 3,000; Gerard Gallagher (Finn Valley AC) 3,000m; Peter Glass (Letterkenny AC) pole vault.
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